i?«Sr\ 



*£* 



^S 



*— 



* - 









,*- 




4i 



■ mH 









^v 



a^aAPSa 



mm 



^LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, f 



UNITED STATES OP AMERICA 






mmsm 









ireMW-Ai: i*VA 



V. AA7V ,J --*i 



ms**«:^ 






w 






'•. R W3& h 







f 



aPN^ 



Tt UU 







<9< 






#' 




X) 



M 






IN* 











^5 



Collection* of the ©orcfjester Antiquarian anfc 
PKstoricai Society. 



NUMBER TWO. 

ANNALS OF THE TOWN OF DORCHESTER, 

BY JAMES BLAKE. 
1750. 



BOSTON : 

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY DAVID CLAPP, JR. 
Over 184 Washington Street. 

1846. 



At a stated meeting of the Resident Members of the Dorchester Anti- 
quarian and Historical Society, held, pursuant to Notification, at the resi- 
dence of William D. Swan, in Dorchester, April 25, 1845 : on motion, the 
following preamble and resolutions were adopted by unanimous vote : — 

Whereas a Manuscript bearing the title of the "Annals of the Town of 
Dorchester," by James Blake, has long been acknowledged as an authentic 
and faithful sketch of the ecclesiastical and civil history of this ancient 
town ; and whereas the publication of said manuscript would be of essential 
service in the diffusion of a knowledge of early New England history ; it is 

Resolved, That a Committee of three be elected and empowered to collate 
the "Annals" with the Records of the Church and Town of Dorchester; 
and to make such annotations by way of Appendix or otherwise as shall 
render more useful and interesting the valuable MS. above mentioned. 

Resolved, That the same Committee be authorized to take such order for 
the publication of said work, as, in their judgment, may be deemed expe- 
dient. 

Voted, That Ebenezer Clapp, jr., James M. Robbins and Edward Holden 
constitute the Committee of Publication. 
Attest, 

EDWARD HOLDEN, Librarian. 



Entered, According to Act of Congress, in the year 1845, by 

David Clapp. Jk. 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. 






PREFACE 



A just appreciation of the expressions of interest and 
favor which marked the issue of the first Number of our 
Society's Collections, has prompted still further efforts on 
the part of the Association, for the diffusion of our histori- 
cal treasures. There are yet, doubtless, many rare MSS. 
which record the history of the foundation and progress of 
our Colony, Province and Commonwealth ; the more valu- 
able of which, it is to be hoped, will, in due time, be sub- 
jected to the preserving and diffusing power of the press. 
In prosecuting this work, in the limited sphere which we 
have assigned to ourselves, we now present to our readers 
a volume which, though modest in its pretensions and local 
in its character, will, doubtless, be hailed with delight in 
numerous parts of New England. 

The original manuscript, from which this publication is 
furnished, is still extant, and is in a good state of preserva* 
tion. The esteem in which the work has long been held, 
has frequently prompted its transcription by those who 



iv PREFACE. 

have been so fortunate as to gain access to the MS. It is 
gratifying to know, that Jive correct and complete copies 
are still preserved. 

It may properly be remarked here, that the only title 
attached to the original work is that which forms the cap- 
tion of the first page of the text ; the usual title-page and 
running title being wholly omitted by the author. Aware, 
as we are, of the general desire, that the New England 
historical writings of the last century may be preserved 
in their integrity, the Committee have determined to give 
as correct a copy of the MS. as could well be made with 
type ; and, as the result of that determination, the reader 
will notice a too frequent use of capitals, a sparing inser- 
tion of the points of punctuation ; with an orthography that 
sometimes suffers by comparison with the modem standards 
of the English language. Nevertheless, we are confident 
that we shall never regret having allowed the testimony of 
our Annalist to remain unaltered. 

Many of our readers will probably desire an introduction 
to the author before reading his Annals. To such we pre- 
sent him, as briefly as we may do in the following sketch. 

James Blake was a son of James and Ruth ; a grand- 
son of James and Elizabeth ; and a great grand-son of 
William and Agnes, who were among the first and most 
distinguished of the settlers of Dorchester. He w as born 



PREFACE. 



at Dorchester, April 30, 1688, O. S. He held many 
important stations in the service of the town ;— was for 
many years Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, and principal 
Selectman of Dorchester ; in which offices he continued to 
serve with ability until rendered incapable of active duty 
by serious and long protracted disease, which finally re- 
sulted in his death. Mr. Blake was an ingenious mathema- 
tician and an accurate surveyor. He surveyed many farms 
in Dorchester and other towns ; and once surveyed the 
whole town of Dorchester, when its territorial limits were 
much larger than at present ; and his projections, skilfully 
and elegantly made, are among the most interesting deposits 
in the archives of his native town. For a more particular 
account of the public services of Mr. Blake, the reader is 
referred to his " Annals." This work is introduced by an 
exhibition of the motives and projects of the first settlers, 
and gives a minute account of the principal events and 
transactions here for a period of one hundred and twenty 
years, to the time of the author's death, which occurred 
on December 4, 1750, O. S. The entries which occur 
after this date are supposed to have been made by his son. 
This work was for many years the principal authority for 
all the early accounts, published, of the town of Dorchester. 
For the purpose of rendering more complete several 
parts of the original MS., annotations have been made and 



VI PREf'ACfi. 

appended to the work, among which may be found copies 
of civil and ecclesiastical records of important acts, which 
are but briefly mentioned or merely alluded to by our 
author; together with a relation of historical facts upon 
points which are not subject to official record, but are sub- 
stantiated by veritable history or unquestionable tradition. 

In order that it may be still more valuable to the public, 
and especially to the numerous descendants of the first 
settlers of Dorchester, the publisher has been furnished 
with many of their autographs, from a page of the first 
book of Town Records, being the names of the male in- 
habitants of the town in the year 1641, which he presents 
to the reader as a lithographed Frontispiece. These names 
are appended to an instrument conveying to the town of 
Dorchester all rents and profits of Thompson's Island, for 
the support of a Free School. 

We now suffer the " Annals " to " appear" before the 
public, with the hope that its reception may warrant a 
continuance of labors in this part of the work in which we 
are engaged. 

Dorchester, September, 1845. 



ANNALS OF THE TOWN OF DORCHESTER. 



When many most Godly and Religious People that Dis- 
sented from y e way of Worship then Established by Law 
in y e Realm of England, in y e Reign of King Charles y e 
first, being denied y e free exercise o&Keligion after y e man- 
ner they professed according to y e light of God's Word and 
their own consciences, did under y e Incouragement of a 
Charter Granted by y e S d King, Charles, in y e Fourth 
Year of his Reign A.D. 1628, Remoue themselues h their 
Families into y e Colony of y e Massachusetts Bay in New- 
England, that they might Worship God according to ye 
light of their own Consciences, without any burthensome 
Impositions, which was y e very motive h cause of their 
coming ; Then it was, that the First Inhabitants of Dor- 
chester came ouer, h were y e first Company or Church 
Society that arriued here, next to y e Town of Salem who 
was one year before them. 

In y e Year of our Lord 16*29, Divers Godly Persons in 
Devonshire, Somersetshire, Dorcetshire h other places, 
Proposed a Remoue to New-England, among whom were 
two Famous Ministers, viz. Mr. John Maverick (who I 
suppose was somewhat advanced in Age) and Mr. John 
Warham (I suppose a Younger Man,) then a Preacher in 
y e City of Exon, or Exeter, in y e County of Devon. 
These good People met together at Plymouth, a Sea-port 



8 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

Town in y e S (1 County' of Devon, in order to Ship them- 
selues & Families for New-England ; and because they 
designed to Hue together after they should arriue here, they 
met together in the New Hospital in Plymouth and Asso- 
ciated into Church Fellowship, and Chose y e S d Mr. Ma- 
uerick and Mr. Warham to be their Ministers and Officers, 
keeping y e Day as a Day of Solemn Fasting & Prayer, and 
y e S d Ministers accepted of y e Call & Expressed y e same ; 
the Revd. Mr. John White of Dorchester in Dorcet, (who 
was an active Instrument to promote y c Settlement of New 
England, and I think a means of procuring y e Charter) 
being present & Preaching y e fore part of y e Day, and in 
y e latter part of y e Day they performed y e work aforesaid. 
This People being too many in Number to come in one 
Vessel, they hired one Capt. Squeb to bring them in a 
large Ship of 400 Tons ; they set Sail from Plymouth y e 
20th of March 1629-30, and arriued at Nantasket (now 
Hull) y e 30th of May 1630, having a Comfortable tho' 
long Passage, and having Preaching or Expounding of the 
Scripture every day of their Passage, performed by their 
Ministers. They had agreed with Capt. Squeb to bring 
them into Charles River, but he was false to his bargain 
&- would not come any further than Nantasket, where he 
turned them and their Goods ashore on y e point, leaving 
them in a forlorn Wilderness destitute of any habitation & 
most other comforts of life. But it pleased God, they got 
a Boat of some that had staid in y e Country (I suppose for 
Trade, for there was some at Noddles Island & at Charles- 
town that staid in y e Country for Trade with y e Natiues 
before these adventurers came ouer, as likewise Moreton of 
Merry-Mount at Brantrey) and put their goods in y e Boat, 
and Instead of Sailing up to Charles River in a Ship were 
forced (as I suppose) to Row up in a Boat, it being about 
3 Leagues to y e Mouth of y e River. They went up y e 
River until it grew narrow &i Shallow, h then put ashore 
h built a hut to shelter their Goods, Intending there to set 
down, it being about y e place where Watertown now is. 
The Indians upon their arrival Mustered thick, they thought 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 9 

about 300, but having with them an Old Planter as they 
called him, one that had stayed in the Country h could speak 
something of the Indian Language, (I suppose they took 
him from Charlestown that now is, for they called there &t 
saw several Wigwams, h one English Man in an House 
where they ate boiled Bass, but had no Bread to eat with 
it) they sent him to y e Indians, who were persuaded to keep 
at a distance y e first night, and y e next morning when the 
Indians appeared, they offered no violence but sent some 
of their number holding out a Bass ; our people sent a man 
with a Bisquet, & so they Exchanged, not only then but 
often afterwards, a bisquet for a Bass, and y e Indians were 
very friendly to them, which our people ascribed to God's 
watchful Providence ouer them in their weak beginnings ; 
for all the Company were not gone up y e River, but about 
Ten men to seek out y e way for y e Rest. They were now 
landed upon y e Main Continent in a wild &t unknown Wil- 
derness, and they had brought Cattle with them which if 
they put them ashore there would likely wander h be lost 
&, themselves likewise in seeking them. They had not 
stayed here at Watertown but a few days but y e Rest of 
their Company below had found out a neck of Land Joyn- 
ing to a place called by y e Indians Mattapan, (now Dor- 
chester) that was a fit place to turn their Cattle upon to 
prevent their straying ; so they sent to their friends to come 
away from Watertown, and they settled at Mattapan, & 
turned their Cattle upon y e S d neck then called Matta pan- 
nock, now called Dorchester-Neck. They began their 
Settlement here at Mattapan y e beginning of June as I 
suppose, or thereabout, A. D. 1630, and changed y e name 
into Dorchester, calling it Dorchester Plantation. Why 
they called it Dorchester I never heard, but there was some 
of Dorcet Shire, h some of y e Town of Dorchester that 
settled here : and it is very likely it might be in Honour of 
y e aforesaid Revd. Mr. White of Dorchester. Our People 
were Settled here a Month or two before Governor Win- 
throp &l y e Ships that came with him arriued at Charles- 
town, so that Dorchester Plantation was settled next to y e 



]0 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER* 

Town of Salem in y e Massachusetts-Colony, being before 
Charlestown or Boston: And y e Church of Dorchester 
y e oldest Church in y e Colony Except Salem ; and I sup- 
pose y e only Church that came over in Church Fellowship, 
the other Churches being gathered here. The Indians 
here at Dorchester were also kind to our People. 

The first Inhabitants of Dorchester came chiefly from 
y e S d Countys of Devon, Dorcet & Somerset, and I think 
from some other places. They were a very Godly & Reli- 
gious people ; and many of them Persons of Note and 
figure, being dignified with y e Title of Master ; which but 
few in those Days were. Their Ministers or Pastors were 
y e S a Revd. Mr. John Maverick and y e Revd. Mr. John 
Warham ; others of Note were Mr. Rossiter, Mr. Ludlow, 
Mr. Glover, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Terry, Mr. Smith, Mr. 
Gallope, Mr. Hull, Mr. Stoughton, Mr. Cogan, Mr. Hill, 
Capt. Southcott, Capt. Lovell, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Pinney, 
Mr. Richards, Mr. Way, Mr. Williams, Mr. Tilly & others. 
And among them came Capt. Roger Clap, a very worthy 
Religious Gentleman, who was then a young man, & to 
him we are beholden for y e knowledge of many of y e par- 
ticulars before mentioned, he leaving them in writing among 
y e Instructions he left to his Children. It seems many of 
these people were Trading men, fo at first designed Dor- 
chester for a place of Trade, and accordingly built a Fort 
upon y e hill called Rock-hill, wherein were seueral Pieces 
of ordinance, near y e Waterside ; but y e Channel being 
poor h landing difficult, and Boston and Charlestown Har- 
ber being far more commodious, they desisted from that 
design h many of them removed afterwards to Boston and 
other places, so that many families about in the Country 
had their first Rise from Dorchester, there not being here 
a large quantity of Land to settle upon, that I suppose ye 
Inhabitants are but little if any thing more numerous now, 
than they were 50 or 60 years ago ; young people many of 
them moving out as they grow up. 

These first Settlers of y e Town of Dorchester, took up 
every one his spot to set clown upon, pretty thick together 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 11 

at y e northerly end of y e Town next to y e aforesaid neck 
of Land, &z on y e Easterly side next to y e Sea, leaving 
many Intervening Spots of Land between their Settlements. 

16 3 1 — 16 3 2. 

These years were spent in working themselues into Settle- 
ments, & Incorporating into a Body to carry on y e Publick 
Affairs of y e Plantation ; in Granting many Parcels of Land 
h Meadow to I suppose every particular Person ; but for 
y e House-lots where they first Set dow n we have no Re- 
cords of them, they being taken up as aforesaid. 

In these years great was y e Straits and Difficulties these 
People met with for want of Provision for themselues &t 
Families : and as Capt. Clap expresseth it, " Oh y e Hunger 
" that many suffered, and saw no hope in an Eye of Reason 
" to be supplyed, only by Clams, &l Muscles, and Fish ; 
" and Bread was so very Scarce, that sometimes y e very 
" Crusts of my Fathers Table would have been very Sweet 
" unto me : And when I could have Meal fy Water &f Salt, 
>; boiled together, it was so good, who could wish better. 
" And it was not accounted a strange thing in those Days, 
"■'to Drink water, and to eat Samp or Homine without 
" Butter or Milk. Indeed it would have been a strange 
" thing to see a piece of Roast Beef, Mutton or Veal ; 
" tho' it was not long before there was Roast Goat." And 
yet this people were very contented under their outward 
wants so long as they could enjoy the worship of God 
without any molestation : they did not meditate a Return 
to England, but as y e S d Capt. Clap saith, " I do not Re- 
" member that ever I did wish in my Heart that I had not 
" come into this Country, or wish myself back again to my 
" Fathers House ; Yea I was so far from that, that 1 wished 
" & advised some of my Brethren to come hither also ; 
" which accordingly one of my Brothers and those two that 
" married my two Sisters, sold their means and came hither. 
" The Lord Jesus Christ was so plainly held out in y e 
" Preaching of y e Gospel to poor lost Sinners, and y e Abso- 
" lute Necessity of y e New birth, and Gods Spirit in those 



12 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

" Days was pleased to Accompany y e word with such effi- 
" cacy upon y e Hearts of many ; that our Hearts were quite 
" taken off from Old England h set upon Heaven. The 
" Discourse not only of y e Aged, but of y e Youth also, 
" was not, How shall we go to England 1 (though some 
" few did not only so discourse but also went back again) 
" but How shall we go to Heaven 1 Haue I true Grace 
" wrought in my Heart ? Haue I Christ or no ? O how did 
" Men and Women, young and old, Pray for Grace, beg 
" for Christ in those Days ; and it was not in vain : Many 
" were converted, and others established in Believing ; many 
" joined unto y e Several Churches where they liued." I 
mention this to show what sort of people they were that 
came first into this Country, what their Spirit & Design 
was, what a fervent loue and zeal they had for God & his 
Instituted worship, how contented under their Straits and 
Difficulties, while they enjoyed y e Gospel h y e free Pro- 
fession of their Religion. 

1633. 

This Year they had a Meetinghouse for ye Public wor- 
ship of God, but we haue no Account when it was built. 
This Year this Plantation began y e Practice of Choosing 
men, that we now call Selectmen or Townsmen. They 
Chose 12 this year to order y e Affairs of y e Plantation, 
who were to have their Monthly Meetings, and their orders 
being Confirmed by y e Plantation were of full force and 
binding to y e Inhabitants. There were many orders made 
this year concerning Cattle and Fences &c, & Penalties 
annexed ; besides many grants of Land. This year a fort 
was ordered to be built on y e Rock upon Rock-hill, h 
y e Charge to be paid by a Rate. 

This Year y e Plantation Granted Mr. Israel Stoughton 
liberty to build a Mill upon Neponsit River, which I sup- 
pose was y e first Mill built in this Colony, and y e S d River 
has been famous for Mills ever since. 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 13 

1634. 

This Year they Chose 10 Selectmen to order y e affairs 
of y e Plantation, namely Mr. Newbury, Mr. Stoughton, Mr. 
Woolcott, Mr. Duncan, Goodman Phelps, Mr. Hathorne, 
Air. Williams, Go. Minot, Go. Gibbes &t Mr. Smith ; and 
gaue any Seven of them power to make orders to bind y e 
Inhabitants until Repealed by y e Inhabitants. This year 
they also appointed a Bayliff, namely Nicholas Upsall. 
There were also many grants of land this year. 

16 3 5. 

This Year were 9 Selectmen Chosen, namely William 
Phelps, Nathl. Duncan, Mr. George Hull, Mr. Dimocke, 
William Gaylard, Mr. Roger Williams, George Minot, John 
Philips & Mr. Newbery. And Walter Filer, Bayliff. Be- 
fore this year the orders of y e Plantation were Signed John 
Maverick, John Warham, William Rockwell & William 
Gaylord, or two of them ; from this year and forward that 
method ceased. There were many Orders & Grants of 
Land this year. 

This Year arriued here on Aug. 16th the Revd. Mr. 
Richard Mather, that was a long time after Pastor of this 
Church, and with him a great Number of Godly people 
that Settled here with him. There came with him 100 
Passengers, & 23 Seamen, 23 Cows & Heifers, 3 Sucking 
Calues, k, 8 Mares, & none Died by y e way, though they 
met with as terrible a Storm as was almost ever heard of. 

1636. 

This Year were Chosen 12 Selectmen, namely Mr. 
Stoughton, Mr. Glover, Henry Withington, Nathl. Duncan, 
Geo. Minot, Rich. Collicut, John Holman, Mr. Hill, Will. 
Gaylard, Christopher Gibson, John Pierce & Mr. Jones. 
And afterwards they ordered that 10 men should be Chosen, 
7 of whom should make orders & bind ye Inhabitants, being 
first Published on a lecture Day h not being then disal- 
lowed by y e Plantation. Joseph Flood, Bayliff. There 
were many orders &l Grants of Land this year. This 
2 



14 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

year made great alteration in y e Town of Dorchester, 
for Mr. Mather & y e Godly people that came with him 
from Lancashire wanting a place to settle in, some of y e 
People of Dorchester were willing to remoue & make room 
for them, & so Mr. Warham h about half y e Church re- 
mould to Winsor in Connecticut Colony, and Mr. Mather & 
his people came & Joined with Mr. Maverick and that 
half of y e Church that were left, and from these people so 
united are y e greatest part of y e present Inhabitants de- 
scended. When these two Companies of people were thus 
united they made one Church, having y e S d Revd. Mr. 
John Maverick, & y e S d Revd. Mr. Richard Mather for 
their Pastors, and entered into y e following Covenant, viz. 

" Dorchester Church Covenant made if 23d Day of y^ 
6 Month 1636. 
" We whose names are subscribed being called of God to 
Join ourselues together in Church Communion ; from our 
Hearts acknowledgeing our own unworthiness of such a 
priviledge, or of y e least of Gods mercies ; and likewise 
acknowledgeing our disability to keep Covenant with God, 
or to perform any Spiritual Duty which lie calleth us unto, 
unless y e Lord Jesus do enable us thereunto by his Spirit 
dwelling in us ; Do in y e Name of Christ Jesus our Lord, 
& in trust and Confidence of his free Grace assisting us, 
freely Covenant & Bind ourselues, Solemnly in y e presence 
of God himself, his Holy Angels, and all his Servants here 
present ; That we will by his Grace Assisting, endeavour 
constantly to walk together as a Right Ordered Congrega- 
tion of Christ, according to all y e Holy Rules of a Church 
Body rightly established, so far as we do already know it 
to be our duty, or shall further understand out of God's Holy 
Word : Promising first & aboue all to cleaue unto him as 
our Chief and only Good, and to our Lord Jesus Christ as 
our only Spiritual Husband & Lord, & our only High 
Priest &, Prophet h King. And for y e furthering of us to 
keep this blessed communion with God & his Son Jesus 
Christ, &i to grow up more fully herein ; we do likewise 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 15 

promise by his Grace assisting us, to endeavour y e Estab- 
lishing amongst ourselues all his Holy Ordinances which 
he hath appointed for his Church here on Earth, and to 
ohserue all & euery of them in such sort as shall be most 
agreeable to his Will, opposing to y e utmost of our power 
whatsoever is contrary thereunto, and bewailing from our 
Hearts our own neglect hereof in former times, and our 
poluting ourselues therein with any Sinfull Invention of 
men. 

" And lastly, we do hereby Covenant h promise to further 
to our utmost power, the best Spiritual good of each other, 
& of all and every one that may become members of this 
Congregation, by mutual Instruction, Reprehension, Ex- 
hortation, Consolation & Spiritual watchfulness over one 
another for good. And to be subject in and for y e Lord 
to all y e Administrations & Censures of y e Congregation, 
so far as y e same shall be Guided according to y e Rules of 
Gods most holy word. Of the Integrity of our Hearts 
herein, we call God y e Searcher of all Hearts to Witness ; 
Beseeching him so to bless us in this & all our Enterprises, 
as we shall sincerely endeavour by y e assistance of his 
Grace to obserue his Holy Covenant in all y e branches of 
it inviolable for ever ; and where we shall fail, there to wait 
upon y e Lord Jesus for Pardon and acceptance & healing 
for his Name's sake. 

" Richard Mather, Natha'l Duncan, 

George Minot, Henry Withington, 

Thomas Jones, John Pope." 
John Kinsley, 

This Year y e General Court made a Grant to Dorches- 
ter of y e old part of y e Township, as far as y e great Blew- 
hill ; and y e Town took a Deed of Kitchamakin Sachem 
of y e Massachusetts for y e same. 

1637. 

The 10 Selectmen were Mr. Glover, Nathl. Duncan, 



16 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

Mr. Jones, Mr. Bates, Rich. Collicut, Mr. Holman, EdwcL 
Clap, Roger Clap, Wm. Sumner. 

This year y e Gen. Court made a second Grant to y e 
Town home to Plymouth Line, called y e new Grant. 

In some part of this Year the Town Chose 20 men to 
order y e affairs of y e Plantation ; and very many orders 
were made for y e disposal of small pieces of Land & Marsh 
&c, and a List of those that were to haue Land in y e Di- 
vision of y e Neck, & other Lands, consisting of about 104 
Names. 

1638. 

Selectmen, Mr. Glover, Nathl. Duncan, Mr. Adderton, 
Mr. Jones, Ch. Gibson, Jos. Philips, Mr. Bates, Wm. 
Sumner, Nich. Upsall & John Capen. 

Raters or Assessors, Mr. Bates, Roger Clap, Ch. Gibson, 
Barnabe Four, John Capen. And in y e latter part of y e 
year were Chosen 7 men to order y e affairs of y e Planta- 
tion, for y e Remainder of y e year, for sometimes they Chose 
twice a year. About this time the Neck & y e three Divi- 
sions of y e Cow walk was laid out, 

1639. 

This year Thomsons Island was appropriated for y e bene- 
fit of a School, but afterward y e Town were Sued out of 
y e Possession of S d Island. & y e Gen. Court Granted 1000 
acres of wild land in lieu of it.* 

This year was an order for Mounting y e Great Guns at 
Mr. Hawkins's or Rock-hill. 

There is no Account of y e Selectmen this Year, Except 
y e 7 men mentioned in y e latter end of y e last year were 
they, who were Mr. Glover, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Duncan, 
Mr. Adderton, Mr. Jones, John Wiswell, John Pierce. 

1640. 

There is no Record of y e Selectmen this year, nor is 
there much business Recorded. 

* See Appendix, Note F. 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 17 

1641. 

Selectmen, Nathl. Duncan, Sargent Atherton, Mr. Clark, 
Rich. Collicut, John Holland, Roger Clap, John Pierce. 

This year Aug. 9, Died Mr. Jonathan Burr, Assistant 
to Mr. Richard Mather. 

1642. 

Selectmen, Mr. John Glover, Bro. Breck, Ens. Holman, 
Bro. Bates, Bro. Gibson, Bro. Upshall, Thos. Clark. Bay- 
liff, Geo. Procter. 

This year it was ordered that every person that had any 
matter to offer to y e Town must first acquaint y e Selectmen 
with it, or else it was not to be debated on under a penalty ; 
agreeable to y e present Law requiring all y e matter of y e 
meeting to be expressed in y e warrant. 

From 38 to 42, Mr. Nathl. Duncan & Serj. Hum. Ather- 
ton were Treasurers. 

1643. 

This year there is no Record of y e Officers, nor (I think) 
of any other thing, there being Several Pages missing in 
that place. 

1644. 

Selectmen, Mr. Glover, Mr. Patten, Mr. Howard, Thos. 
WiswelL Nathl. Duncan, Mr. Atherton, Mr. Jones. 

This year there was Wardens appointed to take care of 
h manage y e affairs of y e School ; they were to see that 
both y e Master & Schollar performed their Duty, & to 
Judge of h End any difference that might arise between 
Master h Schollar, or their Parents, according to Sundry 
Rules & Directions there set down. The first Wardens 
were Mr. Howard, Dea. Wiswell, h Mr. Atherton. 

16 4 5. 

This year they agreed upon y e Building of a new Meet- 
ing-house, and Granted a Rate of £250 ; the Committee 
Mr. Glover, Nathl. Duncan, Mr. Atherton, Mr. Jones, 

2* 



18 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

Dea. Wiswell, Dea. Clap & Mr. Howard ; Raters, Edwd. 
Breck, Wm. Sumner, Thos. Wiswell, William Blake fc 
Roger Clap. 

Selectmen for this year were Humphrey Atherton, Roger 
Clap, John Wiswell, Thos. Jones, Hopestill Foster, Geo. 
Weeks & Wm. Blake. Bayliff, Serjant Sumner. 

This year was Composed and Recorded an Instrument 
called the Directory, wherein were many good orders Si- 
Rules which y e Inhabitants bound themselves to observe, 
in their orderly managing their Town Meetings : Some of 
which were, that althings should be aforehand prepared by 
y e Selectmen, that all Votes of Importance should be first 
drawn in writing and have 2 or 3 distinct Readings, before 
y e Vote was called for. That every man should haue 
libertie to speak his mind meekly and without noise ; that 
no man should speak when another was speaking ; that all 
men would Countenance &l Encourage all y e Town Offi- 
cers in y e due Execution of their Offices, and not fault or 
Revile them for doing their Duty, &£c. This Directory 
used to be Read at y e opening of y e Town Meetings after- 
wards, as y e Laws of Reformation are ordered to be Read 
now. This year was also an Order made, that at all Town 
Meetings the Selectmen were to appoint one of themselues 
to be Moderator, near Conformable to y e present Law of 
the Province. There were also this year & before & after, 
divers orders about Fences, Cattle, Swine, Marking of Cat- 
tle, &c, much like what y e Province Law now requireth: 
as also for manageing of Common Fields &c. which orders 
had penalties annexed, & men appointed to see them Exe- 
cuted, and y e fines destreined by y e Bayliff. 

1646. 

Selectmen, Mr. Glover, Mr. Jones, Edwd. Breck, John 
Wiswell, John Holland, Edward Clap & Wm. Clark. 

1647. 
Selectmen, John Wiswell, Thos. Jones, Wm. Blake, 
Wm. Clark, Joseph Farnworth, Wm. Sumner & Geo. 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 19 

Weeks. Raters, Nicholas Clap, Richard Baker & John 
Capen. Bayliff, John Kinsley. 

1 648. 
Selectmen, Capt. Atherton, John Wiswell, John Glover, 
Roger Clap, & Thos. Jones. Bayliff. John Smith. Raters^ 
Geo. Weeks, Hopestill Foster, h John Kinsley. 

1649. 

This year there is no Record of y e Town Officers to be 
found. 

16 5 0. 

Selectmen, Mr. John Glover, Lievt. Clap, Ens. Foster, 
Serjant Clark h John Smith. Bayliff, James Humfrey. 
Raters, Mr. Jones, John Capen, Richard Baker. 

1651 . 

Selectmen, Capt. Atherton, Wm. Blake Senr., Mr. 
James Bates, Mr. Jones, & Mr. Howard. Raters, John 
Capen, Thos. Dickerman, Wm. Sumner Senr. Bayliff. 
Richard Hall. 

This Year the Bridge built over Neponsit River by 
Henry Whites. 

1652. * 

Selectmen, Capt. Humphrey Atherton, Wm. Sumner 
Senr., Robt. Howard, Thos. Jones &, Ensign Foster. 
Bayliff, Bro. Gurnet. Raters, Serjant Capen, Thos. Wis- 
well, Serj. Clark. This year was a Collection in Dor- 
chester, for y e maintenance of y e President, Fellows, & 
poor Schollars of Harvard Colledge. Robert Howard 
Chosen Clerk of y e Writs untill Dea. WiswelFs Return 
from Ep 



srlancl. 



16 5 3. 

Selectmen, Capt. Humphrey Atherton, Richard Baker, 
Richard Leeds, Mr. Patten & Lievt. Clap. Bayliff, John 
Wales. Raters, Serj. Capen, John Minot & John Smith. 



20 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

16 5 4. 
Selectmen, Lt. Roger Clap, Mr. Nathl. Patten, Dea. 
John Wiswell, Ens. Foster and Mr. Thos. Jones. Raters, 
Serj. Capen, John Minot, John Smith. Bayliff, Thos. 
Bird. 

1 6 5 5 . 
Selectmen, John Wiswell, Ens. Foster, Edwd. Breck, 
Nathl. Glover, & Nathl. Patten. Raters, John Smith, 
John Minot & Win. Clark. Bayliff, Henry Garnsey. 

16 5 6. 

Selectmen, Mr. Patten, Edwd. Breck, Ens. Foster, Mr. 
Jones, h Nathl. Glover. Raters, Serjt. Capen, Wm. 
Clark & Robt. Badcock. Bayliff, Thos. Lake. This year 
Wm. Blake Sen. was Chosen Recorder for y e Town, & 
Clerk of y e Writs for y e County of Suffolk ; he was to haue 
20s. per year, h be Ratefree. 

16 5 7. 

Selectmen, Lt. Clap, Ens. Foster, Mr. Jones, Mr. Pat- 
ten h Edwd. Clap. Raters, Joseph Farnworth, Wm. 
Clark &, Rich. Withington. Bayliff, Lawrence Smith. 
This Year there was also Two Constables Chosen, viz. 
John Capen k, Wm. Trescott. 

This Year y e Town at y e Request of y e Revd. Mr. John 
Eliot Granted Punkapuog Plantation for y e Indians, and 
appointed men to lay it out, not exceeding 6000 acres, and 
at y e same time 500 acres to Lt. Roger Clap, h 1000 
acres to be laid out for y e School of Dorchester. 

The Records of Births & Deaths that was before this 
Year is S d to be accidentally burnt in Thomas Millet's 
house, and so are all lost, except a few Families that kept 
y e Account of their Childrens Births, entered them in y c 
next Book of y 8 Records of Births. 

This Year there is Recorded 19 Births & 17 Deaths. 

1658. 
Selectmen, Majr. Atherton, Lt. Clap, Ens. Foster, Mr. 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 21 

Jones & Mr. Patten. Raters, John Capen, Wm. Sumner, 
& Wm. Robinson. Bayliff, Clement Maxfield. Consta- 
bles, James Blake k, Hugh Batten. 

This Year was an Ordef for all Persons to giue in Acct. 
of their Ratable Estate, & no person to Receiue into Town 
anv Stranger without acquainting y e Selectmen. 

Births 31. Deaths 9." 

1659. 
Selectmen, Majr. Atherton, Lt. Clap, Ens. Foster, Mr. 
Patten, k, Mr. Jones. Raters, Edward Breck, John Capen 
& Wm. Sumner. Bayliff, Jacob Hewins. Constables, 
Wm. Robinson & Wm. Pond. Births 18. Deaths 7. 
Geo. Weeks & Jos. Farnworth died this year. This Year 
was given y e 400 Acres of Land to y e use of y e Ministry, 
h 500 Acres to ye Non-Commoners. 

1 660. 

Selectmen, Majr. Atherton, Lt. Clap, Ens. Foster, Mr. 
Patten & Mr. Jones. Raters, Wm. Sumner, John Capen, 
& Wm. Robinson. Bayliff, Thos. Andrews Senr. Con- 
stables, none. Births 29. Deaths 6. 

In 1660 y e 3J Divisions, and y e 6 Divisions Laid out 
about this time. 

1661. 

Selectmen, Lt. Clap, Ens. Foster, Mr. Patten, Mr. 
Jones, &t Wm. Sumner. Raters, Richard Baker, Wm. 
Robinson & John Minot. Bayliff, Wm. Turner. Con- 
stables, Thos. Tolman & Enoch Wiswell. Births 19. 
Deaths 7. 

This year Died y e Honble. Major General Humphrey 
Atherton : upon whose Tomb is written as follows. 

Here lies our Captain, & Majr. of Suffolk was withal! ; 

A Godly Majestrate was he, & Major Generall, 

Two Troops of Horses with him here came, such worth his loue did 

crane ; 
Ten Companies of Foot also mourning march 'd to his Graue. 



22 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

Let all that Read be sure to keep ye Faith as he hath done. 
With Christ he liaes now Crovvn'd, his name was Humphrey Atherton. 
He Died ye 16th of Sepr. 1661. 

Note by y e Records it was y e 17th day. 

He was killed by a fall from his Horse at y e S° end of 
Boston as he was coming homewards (I think in y e Even- 
ing) his Horse either Running over, or starting at a Cow 
that lay down in y e way. 

16 6 2. 

Selectmen, Capt. Clap, Lt. Foster, Wm. Sumner, Mr. 
Jones, h John Minot. Raters, Serjt. Hall, Serjt. James 
Blake, &, Wm. Pond. BaylifF, John Blackman. Con- 
stables, Nicholas Clap, Mr. James Minot. Births 23. 
Deaths 5. This year Milton was set off from Dorchester 
a Township by themselues.* 

1663. 
Selectmen, Capt. Clap, Lt. Foster, Mr. Jones, Wm. 
Sumner, h John Minot. Raters, John Capen, Daniel 
Preston &c Lawrence Smith. Bayliffs no more. Cons. 
Richard Baker, &l James Humfrey. This year they Chose 
Commissioners which had power by Law to try &, Issue 
Small Causes, much as Justices now. The Commissioners 
Chosen this Year were, Capt. Clap, Lt. Foster, and Wm. 
Sumner. Deputies, Capt. Clap &t Lt. Foster. This 
year Wm. Sumner was Chosen Clerk of y e Training-band. 
And this year Capt. Clap was authorized to Join Persons 
in marriage, and from this time forward many Persons were 
married by him. This year there is but 5 Births Recorded. 
Deaths 5. This year Died Mr. William Blake, who had 
been Clerk of y e Writs for y e County of Suffolk, & Re- 
corder for y e Town near 8 years. He was also Clerk of y e 
Training-band. He Died y e 25th of y e 8th mo. 1663, in 
y e 69th Year of his Age. 

* See Appendix, Note G. 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 23 

16 6 4.^ 

Selectmen, Capt. Clap, Lt. Foster, Mr. Jones, Win. 
Sumner, & Anthony Fisher Senr. Raters, John Capen, 
John Minot & Richard Hall. Deputies, Capt. Roger 
Clap &c Lt. Hopestill Foster. Commissioners to end small 
Causes, Capt. Roger Clap, Lt. Hopestill Foster, h Wm. 
Sumner Senr. Constables, Clement Maxfield and Richard 
Leeds. Births 18. Deaths 8. 

This year Died Deacon Edwd. Clap, on y e 8th 11th 
month. He was brother to Capt. Roger Clap. 

16 6 5. 

Selectmen, Lt. Hopestill Foster, Anthony Fisher Senr., 
Thomas Jones, Wm. Sumner & John Minot. Raters, 
Ens. Capen, Rich. Hall & Wm. Pond. Commissioners, 
Capt. Clap, Lt. Foster, Wm. Sumner. Deputies, Capt. 
Clap, Lt. Foster. Constables, Stephen Minot, Thomas 
Trott. Births 29. Deaths 5. This year Died Lawrence 
Smith, often Selectman &c. The Summer of this year 
Capt. Davenport, Capt. of y e Castle, was killed with Light- 
ning at y e Castle, which is within y e bounds of this Town ; 
and in y e month of August Capt. Roger Clap was appointed 
by y e General Court to Supply his place. 

1666. 

Selectmen, Capt. Foster, Wm. Sumner, John Minot, 
Anthony Fisher, & Dea. Capen. Raters, Serjt. Hall, 
Serjt. Clap, Serjt. James Blake. Deputies, Lt. Foster, 
Wm. Sumner. Commissioners, Lt. Foster, Wm. Sumner, 
Anthony Fisher. Constables, Daniel Preston, Henry 
Gamsey. Births 13- Deaths 6. This year died Elder 
Henry Withington, aged 79. 

This year was a Vote that there should be a Recorder 
yearly Chosen at y e same time with y e Selectmen, and 
Deacon John Capen was Chosen Recorder for this year. 

1667. 

Selectmen, John Minot, Wm. Sumner, Saml. Clap, John 



94 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

Capen Senr. &t Ensign Hall. Raters, James Blake, Will. 
Pond, h Timo. Mather. Deputies, Capt. Foster, Wm. 
Sumner. Commissioners, Capt. Foster, Wm. Sumner and 
John Minot. Const. Joseph Holmes h Saml. Robinson. 
Recorder, John Capen Senr. Births 26. Deaths 5. 
This year Thos. Bird Senr. died, aged 54 years ; & Henry 
Way aged 84 years ; & Mr. Thos. Jones, often Selectman, 
died aged 75 years. 

1668. 
Selectmen, Capt. Foster, Lt. Capen, John Minot, Ens. 
Hall & Serjt. Samuel Clap. Recorder, Lt. John Capen. 
Raters, Wm. Sumner, Serjt. James Blake, h Serjt. Wm. 
Pond. Deputies, Capt. Foster & Wm. Sumner. Com- 
missioners, Capt. Foster, Wm. Sumner & John Minot. 
Constables, Timothy Mather and Jacob Hewins. Births 
20. Deaths 5. 

1669. 

Selectmen, Capt. Foster, Serjt. Clap, Lt. Capen, Ens. 
Hall & James Blake. Raters, Mr. Timothy Mather, Ste- 
phen Minot & Daniel Preston. Recorder, Lt. Capen. 
Deputies, Capt. Foster k, William Sumner. Comrs. Capt. 
Foster, Wm. Sumner, & John Minot. Constables, James 
White h Saml. Rigbee. Births 22. Deaths 6. 

This year died y e Revd. Mr. Richard Mather, Teacher 
of this Church of Dorchester. Upon his Tomb is written 
as follows. 

Dom : Sacer. 

Ricliardus Hie Dormit Matherus., 
(Sed nee Totus, nee mora Diuturna) 
Lsetatus genuise Pares. 
Incertum est utrum Doctioran Btelior. 
Anima & Gloria non queunt Humari. 
Divinely Rich & Learned Richard Mather ; 
Sons like him Prophets great, rejoyced this Father. 
Short time his Sleeping dust here's covered down, 
Not his ascended Spirit or Renown. 

V. D. M. in Ang. 16 Ans. in Dorc. 

N. A. 34 Ans., Ob. Apr. 22, 1669. 

Mi. Sue 73. 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 25 

1670. 

Selectmen, Capt. Foster, Lt. Capen, Ens. Hall, Serjt. 
Clap, & Serjt. Blake. Recorder, John Capen Senr. 
Raters, Wm. Sumner, Wm. Pond & Daniel Preston. 
Deputies, Capt. Foster & Wm. Sumner. Commiss. Capt. 
Foster, Wm. Sumner h Lt. John Capen. Const. Thomas 
Davenport & Obediah Haws. Births 23. Deaths 4. 

This year Squamaug Sachem of y e Massachusetts, Con- 
firmed unto Dorchester, y e Purchase of y e New-Grant (so 
called) that was before had from Josias Chickkatabut, in 
1666, and engaged for a more full and ample Deed in 1669, 
but was Slain in y e wars by y e Mawhauks before it was 
accomplished, which S d Squamaug gaue an ample Deed of: 
He Ruling as Sachem during y e minority of Jeremy 
Chickkatabut, Son of y e S d Josias Chickkatabut : and a 
Rate of £28 to pay for it, Levyed on y e Proprietors. 

1671. 

Selectmen, Mr. Stoughton, Capt. Foster, Lt. Capen, 
Ens. Hall, William Sumner. Recorder, John Capen. 
Raters, Serjt. Pond, Serjt. Jas. Blake, Serjt. Preston. 
Deputies, Capt. Clap, Lt. John Capen. Commissioners, 
Capt. Foster, Lievt. Capen, Wm. Sumner. Constables, 
Nathl. Clap & Timothy Tilestone. Births 27. Deaths 
5. This year Died Mr. Anthony Fisher, in y e 80th year 
of his age : and Mr. Nathanael Patten. 

This year Jeremy Chickkatabut, son of Josias Chickkata- 
but, confirmed his uncles Squamaug Sale to y e Town of Dor- 
chester. This year y e Revd. Mr. Josiah Flint was ordained 
Pastor of this Church, Dec. 27 th, in y e room of Mr. Mather 
Deed. This year died Elder Geo. Minot abt. y e 24th Dec. 

1672. 



Selectmen. 


Votes. 


Recorder, Lt. Capen 


Mr. Stoughton 


29 


Treasurer, Capt. Foster 


Capt. Foster 


24 


C Serjt. Clap 


Lt. Capen 


29 


Raters < Serjt. Wiswell 


Wm. Sumner 


22 


( Serjt. Preston 


Ensign Hall 


17 





26 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

-^ . C Capt. Hopestill Foster 
Deputies ^ w * Sll * 



Wm. Sumner 
Constables, Obediah Swift & Samuel Paul. 
Births 1.4. Deaths but 3 Recorded. This year died 
Wm. Dier in y e 93d year of his age. This year y e Choice 
of Commissioners to end small causes ceased. 

This year Mr. James Blake was ordained Deacon of this 
Church June 30th, 1672. 

1673. 

Selectmen, Mr. Stoughton, Capt. Foster, Lt. John 
Capen, Ensign Hall, & Wm. Sumner. Recorder, John 
Capen Senr. Raters, Serjt. Clap, Serjt. Blake &, Serjt. 
Pond. Deputies, Capt. Clap, Capt. Foster. Afterwards 
in this year y e Court sent an order to choose another De- 
puty in y e Room of Capt. Clap, his presence being neces- 
sary at y e Castle because y e times were troublesome. The 
person Chose was Lt. John Capen. Constables, Amiel 
Weeks and Henry Leadbetter. Births 25. Deaths 6. 

1674. 

Selectmen, Mr. Stoughton, Capt. Foster, Lt. Capen, 
Wm. Sumner, h Ensign Hall. Recorder, Lt. John Capen. 
Raters, Serjt. Clap, Dea. Blake, &, Serjt. Preston. Depu- 
ties, Capt. Hopestill Foster, & Lie vt. John Capen. Con- 
stables, Thomas Pierce & John Capen Junr. Births 20. 
Deaths 4. 

This year Died Mr. William Pole, of whom y e Records 
thus Speak. " Mr. William Pole, that sage, Reved. Pious 
man of God, departed this life Febr. 24th, 1674." He was 
Clerk of y e Writs & Regester of Births, Deaths & Mar- 
riages in Dorchester about 10 years ; and often Schoolmaster 
in Dorchester. Upon his Tomb it is thus written. 

u The Epitaph of William Pole, which he himself made while he 

was yet living, in Remembrance of his own Death, and left 

it to be Engraven on his Tomb, so that being Dead 

he might warn Posterity. 

u Or a Resemblance of a Dead man bespeaking ye Reader."' 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 27 

" Ho Passenger 'tis worth thy Pains to stay 

" And take a Dead mans Lesson by ye Way. 

" I was what now thou art, & thou shalt be 

" What I am now, what odds 'twixt me & thee ! 

" Now go thy way ; but stay, take one word more, 

" Thy Staff for ought thou know'st Stands next y e Door. 

" Death is ye Door, ye Door of Heaven or Hell : 

"Be warn'd, be arm'd, Belieue, Repent, Farewell." 

He Died Febr. 24th, 1G74 ; Aged 81 years. 

1675. 

Selectmen, Lt. John Capen, Serjt. Clap, Dea. James 
Blake, Richard Withington, &l Daniel Preston. Recorder, 
Lt. John Capen. Raters, Wm. Pond, Mr. Mather h 
Roger Billing. Deputies, Capt. Hopestill Foster &; Lt. 
John Capen. Clerk of y e Writs, Wm. Weeks. Consta- 
bles, Isaac Jones & John Withington. Births 37. Deaths 
13. 

1676. 

Selectmen, Lt. John Capen, Serjt. Clap, Dea. Blake, 
Danl. Preston k, Richard Withington. Recorder, Lt. John 
Capen. Raters, Mr. Timothy Mather, Serjt. Pond h Serjt. 
Wiswell. Deputies, Capt. Foster & Lt. John Capen. 
Constables, John Bird h John Breck. Births 34. Deaths 
28. 

This year Died Capt. Hopestill Foster Octr. 15, so 
often Improved in y e Town & Countrys Service. About 
this Year the Meeting-house that now is was built, & about 
that time y e Elm Trees now about y e Meeting-house were 
set by Mr. Thos. Tilestone. 

The work of y e Meeting-house was undertaken by Mr. 
Isaac Royal & performed, I think, for £200. 

1 677. 

Selectmen, Lt. John Capen, Daniel Preston, Richard 
Withington, Serjt. Saml. Clap & Dea. James Blake. Re- 
corder, Lt. John Capen. Raters, Enoch Wiswell, John 
Breck &£ Saml. Robinson. Deputies, Lt. John Capen ^ 



28 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

Dea. James Blake. Constables, James Bird & Thos. Tol- 
man Junr. Births 36. Deaths 12. This year Died Mr. 
William Weeks, who had been Clerk of y e Writs & Regis- 
ter of Births Marriages & Deaths for y e Town of Dorchester 
about 2 years : and Deacon James Blake was Chosen in 
his Room. 

1678. 

Selectmen, Lt. Capen, Dea. Blake, Serjt. Clap, Wm. 
Sumner, & Serjt. Preston. Recorder, Lt. Capen. Raters, 
Serjt. Wiswell, Serjt. Pond & John Breck. Deputies, 
Lt. John Capen & Wm. Sumner. Constables, John Tol- 
man & John Baker. Births 33. Deaths 30. 

This Year Died Quartermaster John Smith ; and Agnes 
y e widow of Mr. Wm. Blake died July 22d. 

1679. 

Selectmen, Lt. John Capen, Wm. Sumner, Dea. Blake, 
Ens. Hall, h Serjt. Clap. Recorder, Lt. Capen. Raters, 
Serjt. Pond, Serjt. Wiswell & John Breck. Deputy, 
Wm. Sumner. Const. Hopestill Clap & Saml. ToplifF. 
Births 29. Deaths 1 8. This year Novr. 24th Died Nicho- 
las Clap very suddenly in his Barn. 

This year y e old Meeting-house sold for £10 to Isaac 
Royal. 

1680. 

Selectmen, Lt. Capen, Dea. Blake, Wm. Sumner, En- 
sign Richard Hall & Serjt. Samuel Clap. Recorder, 
Lt. Capen. Raters, Serjt. Wiswell, John Breck &i Saml. 
Robinson. Deputy, Wm. Sumner. BaylirF, Clement Max- 
field. Constables, Saml. Capen, & James Foster. Births 
35. Deaths 8. 

This year Sepr. 16th Died y e Revd. Mr. Josiah Flint, 
who had been Pastor of this Church almost 9 years. Upon 
his Tomb is written as follows. 

u Here lies Interred ye Corps of Mr. Josiah Flint, late Pastor to 

ye Church in Dorchester, Aged 35 years. 

Deceased Sepr. 15th, 1680. 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 29 

** A Man of God he was so great, so good, 

" His highest worth was hardly understood : 

" So much of God & Christ in him did Dwell, 

" In Grace & Holiness he did excell. 

" An Honour & an ornament thereby, 

" Both to ye Churches &. the Ministry. 

" Most zealous in ye work of Reformation, 

" To save this self destroying Generation. 

" With Courage Stroue 'gainst all this peoples sin; 

" He spent his Strength, his Life, his Soul therein. 

" Consum'd with holy zeal of God, for whom 

" He liu'd, and dy'd a kind of Martyrdom. 

"If men will not lament, their Hearts not break, 

" No wonder this lamenting Stone doth Speak. 

" His Tomb-stone cries Repent, and Souls to saue 

" Doth Preach Repentance from his very Graue. 

" 'Gainst Sinners doth a lasting Record lye 

" This Monument to his Bless'd Memory. 

"Psal. 112. 6. Prov. 10. 7." 

1681. 

Selectmen, Dea. Blake, Serjt. Clap, Wilm. Sumner, Lt. 
Capen &i Ens. Hall. Recorder, Dea. Blake. Raters, 
Serjt. Pond, Serjt. Wiswell & John Breck. Deputy, 
Win. Sumner. Constables, John Pay son, John Wales 
Senr. Births 27. Deaths 17. 

This year Died Mr. John Foster, Son of Capt. Hopestill 
Foster ; School-master of Dorchester, and he that made the 
then Seal or Arms of y e Colony, namely an Indian with 
a Bow & Arrow &c. 

Upon his Tomb or Grave Stone is written as follows. 

" The 

" Ingenious 

" Mathematition & Printer 

" Mr. John Foster. 

" Aged Thirty three years ; Died Sepr. 9th 

" 1681 

" Apr. 1662. 

"I.M. 

" J. F. " Astra Colis vivens, moriens Super iEthera Foster, 
" Scande Precor ; Caelum Jiletiri disce Supremum : 
" Metior atque meum est Emit mibi divis Jesus : 
" Nee teneor quicquam nisi gratis Solvere." 

3* 



30 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

This year Febr. 6, 1681, James Blake Jim. was married 
to Hannah Macy. 

1682. 

Selectmen, James Blake, Serjt. Wiswell, Serjt. Clap, 
Timothy Tilestone, & Ensign Hall. Raters, Wm. Pond, 
Samuel Robinson Si John Breck. Recorder, James Blake. 
Deputy, Dea. James Blake. Constables, Timothy Foster 
h Nehemiah Clap. Births 38. Deaths 12. 

This year y e 28th of June the Revd. Mr. John Danforth 
was Ordained Pastor of this Church, in Room of Mr. Flint 
deceased. 

16 8 3. 

Selectmen, Lt. Hall, Ens. Clap, James Blake, Enoch 
Wiswell h Timothy Tilestone. Recorder, James Blake. 
Collector of Ministers Rate, Capt. Capen. Raters. Wm. 
Pond, Saml. Robinson & John Breck. Deputy, James 
Blake Senr. Constables, Nathl. Glover and Joseph Leeds. 
Births 28. Deaths 19. 

This year died Hannah the Wife of James Blake Junr. 
June 1st, & their Child Elizabeth y e Novr. before, being 
about 12 Days old. 

1684. 

Selectmen, Ensign Clap, Lt. Hall, Dea. Blake, Serjt. 
Wiswell & Wm. Sumner. Recorder, Dea. Blake. Raters, 
Wm. Pond, Saml. Paul, John Breck. Dea. Blake, Col- 
lector of y e Mini's. Rate. Deputy, Wm. Sumner. Con- 
stables, Eben. Williams, Barnard Capen. Births 24. 
Deaths 8. 

This year Died Mr. Timothy Mather Son of Mr. Richard 
Mather, Janr. 14th, by a fall from a Scaffold in y e Barn. 
Also Nehemiah Clap, Son to Dea. Edward Clap, &i Bro- 
ther to Ezra Clap, &, to Elder Blakes wife, died Apr. 2d 
this year : He was Edward Clap of Sudbury his Father. 
This year July 8th James Blake Junr. & Ruth Batchelder 
by Simon Broadstreet, Govr. were married. 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 31 

1685. 

Selectmen, Ens. Clap, James Blake, Enoch Wiswell, 
Lt. Hall, John Breck. Recorder, James Blake. Collector 
[or Rather Treasurer] Capt. Capen. Raters, Win. Pond, 
Saml. Paul & Saml. Topliff. Deputy, VVm. Sumner. 
Constables, Hopestill Humfrey and Ebenezer Withington. 
Births 22. Deaths 4. 

This year Sepr. 16 was bom Hannah y e Daughter of 
James Blake Junr. 

1686. 

Selectmen, Saml. Clap, Lt. Hall, Wm. Sumner, Serjant 
Wiswell, John Breck. Recorder, Serjt. Wiswell. But 
Serjt. Wiswell Refusing both, John Withington was Chosen 
Selectman, & Saml. Clap Recorder. Raters, Serjt. Pond, 
Serjt. Tilestone, Samuel Topliff. Deputy, Wm. Sumner. 
Constables, Daniel Preston Junr., Preserved Capen. Births 
25. Deaths 7. 

This year Octr. 2d Died Hannah y e Daughter of James 
Blake Junr. This year Died Elder James Humfrey, whose 
Tomb was repaired by his Grandson Mr. Jonas Humfrey, 
& upon it is written as follows. 

Here lyes Interred ye Body of Mr. James Humfrey, one of ye 

Ruling Elders of Dorchester, who departed this life 

May 12th, 1686, in ye 78th year of his age. 

I nelos'd within this shrine is precious Dust 

A nd only waits for th' rising of ye Just. 

M ost usefull while he liu'd, adorn'd his Station, } 

E uen to old age he Seru'd his Generation, > 

S ince his Decease tho't of with Veneration. ) 

H ow great a Blessing this Ruling Elder he 

U nto this Church & Town; «& Pastors Three. 

M ather he first did by him help Receiue ; 

F lint did he next his burthen much Relieue ; 

R enowned Danforth he did assist with skill. ^ 

E steemed high by all : Bear fruit untill V 

Y ielding to Death his Glorious seat did fill. ) 

1687. 

Selectmen, Samuel Clap, Timothy Tilestone, -Lt. Hall, 
Wm. Sumner h Henry Leadbetter. Recorder, Samuel 



3*2 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

Clap. Constables, James Blake & Isaac Royal. Births 
33. Deaths 10. This Yeary e Town Passed a Vote that 
y e Selectmen should be Raters this Year. This Year was 
Drowned one John Douse of Charlestown, at Neponsit 
Riuer on y e 23d of Novr. and was found cast upon Thom- 
sons Island Shore y e 19th of March after. 

There was no Deputies Chosen this Year, it being in 
y e Time of Sir Edmond Andrew's Gouernment. This 
Year Isaac Royal gaue a Receipt for £200 for y e new 
Meeting-house & was discharged of y e work. 

1688. 

Selectmen, John Breck, Saml. Clap, Timothy Tilestone, 
Henry Leadbetter, Saml. Robinson & John Withington. 
Constables, John Minot, John Blake. There was no 
Deputies nor Raters Chosen this Year. Births 32. Deaths 
20. 

This Year Apr. 30th James y e Son of James Blake Junr. 
was Bom. 

16 8 9. 

Selectmen. Samuel Clap, Timothy Tilestone, John With- 
ington, Henry Leadbetter h Richard Hall. Recorder, 
Samuel Clap. Raters, Saml. Paul, James Foster & Saml. 
Topliff. Deputies, Samuel Clap h Timothy Tilestone. 
Births 31. Deaths 13. This Year Samuel Paul was 
Chosen Clerk of y e Writs. There is no Record of any 
Constables Chosen this Year. 

1 690. 

Selectmen, Saml. Clap, Timothy Tilestone, Hopestill 
Clap, Henry Leadbetter & James Foster. Raters, Saml. 
ToplifF, John Minot h Ebenezer Williams. Deputy, 
Samuel Clap. Constables, Standfast Foster & Charles 
Davenport. Births 15. Deaths 28. 

This Year Apr. 4th Died Serjt. William Pond. And 
this Year Febr. 17th Died Capt. John Breck, and Janr. 
26th John Minot Died, of y e Small Pox. 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 33 

1691. 

Selectmen, Samuel Clap, Henry Leadbetter, Timothy 
Tilestone, Hopestill Clap h Saml. Topliff. Deputy, Saml. 
Clap. Constables, Desire Clap & Philip Withington. 
Births 26. Deaths 20. This Year June 23d Died Lt. 
Richard Hall. There is a memorandum in my Fathers 
Book, which was y e Account which he kept, that from y e 
first of April 1690, unto y e last of July 1691, that is one 
year h four months, there died in Dorchester 57 Persons, 
33 of them of y e Small Pox, the Rest of a Feaver ; the 
most of them of a middle age. About y e same time [that 
is in 1690] lost at Sea 46 Soldiers* that went to Canada ; 
in all 103. By which it appears that all y e Deaths were 
not brought to Record these years, more especially in 1690. 

16 9 2. 

Untill this year y e Selectmen were Chosen in December, 
but those that were Chosen in December 91, served untill 
March 92-3, and then there was a new Choice for y e year 
1693. Raters, none. Deputies, none. Constables, Wm, 
Royal, Isaac Humfrey. Births 21. Deaths 16. 

This Year Died Capt. John Capen : he was also Dea- 
con of y e Church, &t had been Selectman 16 years & Re- 
corder 13 years ; and wrote more in the Books than any 
one man by far ; keeping y e Books in good order. He 
wrote about 246 Pages in both Books. 

1693. 

Selectmen, Enoch Wiswell, Saml. Robinson, John Tol- 
man, James Bird, Increase Sumner. Town Clerk & Re- 
corder, Robert Searl. Constables, Samuel Jones, James 
Baker. Deputies, none. Births 35. Deaths 13. 

This year July 29th Died Sarah y e widow of Clement 
Topliff, aged 88 years. And Thos. Trott Junr. by a fall 
from his Cart, Janr. 13th. And Elizabeth y e wife of 
Elder James Blake, Janr. 16, 1693-4. 

*8ee Appendix, Note H. 



34 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

1 694. 

Mr. Thomas Tilestone Died June 24th 1694, aged 83 
years. 

Selectmen, John Tolman, John Bird, James Foster, 
James White & Saml. Capen. Town Clerk, Robert Searl. 
Note, when Assessors are not Chosen, the Selectmen are 
Assessors. Constables, Samuel Wales, Increase Sumner. 
Births 25. Deaths 12. Representatiue, Lt. Tilestone. 
And Commissioner, Capt. Saml. Clap. This year y e 
School-house that now is, was built, John Trescott Car- 
penter, Cost 22 pounds. 

1695. 

Selectmen, John Tolman, James Foster, John Bird, 
James White &, Samuel Capen. Town Clerk, Robt. Searl. 
Deputy or Repres. Capt. Clap. Constables, Robt. Spur 
Junr. & Eben. Jones. Births 31. Deaths 9. 

This year Deer. 31st Died Mrs. Ann Pierce, Widow of 
Mr. Robert Pierce, being about 104 years old. 

1696. 

Selectmen, Saml. Capen, Ens. Foster, John Bird, James 
White, Dea. Topliff. Town Clerk, Robert Searl. Con- 
stables, Eben. Davenport, Joseph Withington. Repre- 
sentatiue, Capt. Clap. Assessors, Capt. Saml. Clap, En- 
sign James Foster & Deacon Topliff. Births 29. Deaths 
7. This year Died July 28th Thos. Trott, aged 82 years. 
And Purchase Capen was Killed by y e accidental firing of 
a Gun, Sepr. 9th, a young man about 20 or 21 years old. 

1697. 

Selectmen, Capt. Clap, Dea. Topliff, Dea. Clap, Samuel 
Capen, Ens. Foster. Town Clerk, Robert Searl. Town 
Treasurer, Capt. Clap. Representatiue, none Recorded. 
Constables, Ephraim Payson, Saml. Paul. Births 26. 
Deaths 6. This year Aug. 9th Died Lt. Timothy Tiles- 
tone. 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 35 

1698. 

Selectmen, Capt. Clap, Dea. Clap, Dea. Topliff, Saml. 
Wales, Samuel Capen. Clerk, Robt. Searl. Representa- 
tiue, none Recorded. Constables, Saml. Payson, Oliver 
Wiswell. Births 33. Deaths 7. This year Deer. 16th 
Died Saml. Pierce, Son of Thos. Pierce Senr. with a broken 
Legg by y e fall of a Tree. He was a young man. 

This year was Finished y e laying out y e 1 2 Divisions of 
Land, so called, in y e new Grant. 

1699. 

Selectmen, Dea. Topliff, Dea. Clap, Saml. Wales, James 
Foster, Daniel Preston. Clerk, Robt. Searl. Representa- 
tiue, Capt. Clap. Constables, Noah Beman, Samuel 
Trott. Births 27. Deaths 11. This year Sepr. 11th 
Died Wm. Trescot aged 84 years 8 months. And Wid. 
Elizabeth George Novr. 8th, aged 98 years. Increase 
Blake, Son of James Blake, born this year June 8th 1699. 

1700. 

Selectmen, Capt. Clap, Daniel Preston, Charles Dauen- 
port, Samuel Wales, James Blake. Clerk, Robert Searl. 
Deputy, none Recorded. Constables, Roger Billing, Hum- 
phrey Atherton. 

Births 34. Deaths 15. 

This year June 28th Died Elder James Blake, aged 77 
years. He was first a Deacon of y e Church in Dorchester 
about 1 1 years, & then a Ruling Elder of y e same Church 
about 14 years, unto his death. 

1701. 

Selectmen, Capt. Clap, Daniel Preston, James Blake, 
Samuel Wales & Charles Davenport. Clerk, Robert 
Searl. Representatiue, Mr. Samuel Robinson. Consta- 
bles, Jonathan Hall, Humphrey Atherton. Births 35. 
Deaths 19. This year July 26th Abby Christian was 
drowned & Cast ashore upon Dorchester neck of Land. 

This year Died Richard Withington Senr. Deer. 22 : 



36 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

aged about 84 years. This year July 7th Died y e Honble. 
Wm. Stoughton Esqr. Lt. Govr. & Commander in Chief 
of this Province : Upon his Tomb is thus written.* 

GULIELMUS STOUGHTONUS, Armiger 

Provincial Massachusettensis In Nova Anglia Legatus, 
deinde Gubernator ; 
Nec-non Curiae in eadem Provincia Superioris 
Justiciarius Capitalis, 
Hie Jacet. 
Vir Conjugij nescius, 
Religione Sanctus, 
Virtute Clarus, 
Doctrina Celebris, 
Ingenio Acutus, 
Sanguine et Animo pariter Illustris, 
iEquitatis Amator, 
Legum Propugnator, 
Coilegij Stoughtoniani Fundator, 
Literarum et Literatorum Fautor Celeberriinus, 
Impietatia et Vitij Hostis Aeerrimus. 
Hunc Rhetores amant Facundum, 
Hunc Scriptores norunt Elegantem, 
Hunc Philosphi quserunt Sapientem, 
Hunc Doctores Laudant Theologum, 
Hunc Pij Venerantur Austerum, 
Hunc Omnes Mirantur ; Omnibus Ignotum, 
Omnibus Licet Notum. 
Quid Plura Viator ! Quern perdidimus — 
Stoughtonum ! 
Heu! 
Satis dixi, urgent Lachrvmae, 
Sileo. 
Vixit Annos Septuaginta ; 
Septimo Die Julij Anno Salutis 1701 
Cecidit. 
Heu ! Heu ! Q,ualis Luctus ! 



See Appendix, Note I. 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 37 

17 2. 

Selectmen, Dea. Hopestill Clap, Dea. Daniel Preston, 
James Blake, Saml. Wales, Charles Davenport. Clerk, 
Robert Searl. Deputy, Mr. Saml. Robinson. Constables, 
John Blackman & Thomas Lion in y e Room of Eben. Bil- 
ling who Refused to seme. Births 31. Deaths 14. 

1703. 

Selectmen, James Blake, Charles Davenport, Saml. 
Wales, Dea. Clap, Dea. Preston. Clerk, R. Searl. Re- 
presentatiue, Dea. Hopestill Clap. Constables, Samuel 
Clap, John Minot. Births 35. Deaths 8. 

This year Janr. 5th, 1702-3, Died Mrs. Foster, widow 
of Capt. Hopestill Foster, aged 83 years. And Eben. Bird 
by a fall from his Horse. And Robt. Spun* Died Aug. 16, 
aged 93 years. And John White was killed with his Cart, 
Novr. 3d. 

1704. 

Selectmen, Lt. Foster, Capt. Foster, Serjt. Capen, 
Dea. Clap & James Blake. Town Clerk, Robert Searl. 
Deputy, none Recorded. Constables, Nathl. Butt h John 
Pierce. Births 40. Deaths 12. 

17 5. 

Selectmen, Dea. Preston, James Blake, Dea. Clap, Saml. 
Capen, John Blake. Town Clerk, Robert Searl. Deputy, 
none Recorded. Constables, Eben. Mawdsley, John Tol- 
man, h John Puffer for Punkapaog. Births 41. Deaths 6. 

This year Died Feb. 6th Old Mrs. Wiat, Widow, being 
94 years of age, having as a Midwife assisted y e Birth of 
one Thousand One Hundred &£ odd Children. 

1706. 



Selectmen. 


Votes. 




Saml. Wales 


58 


Town Clerk, Robert Searl 


Char. Davenport 


43 


Deputy, Dea. Clap 


Capt. Spur 


43 


Ralph Pope } 


Lt. Paul 


36 


Jos. Leeds Jun. > Constables. 


Saml. Payson 

4 


34 


James Fales ) 



Selectmen. 


Votes. 


Capt. Spur 
Saml. Wales 


62 
59 


Saml. Paul 


49 


Saml. Payson 
Edwd. Breck 


47 
44 


Births 31. 


Deaths 12. 



38 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER, 

Births 38. Deaths 10. 

This Year Novr. 28th Died Mr. Enoch WiswelL 

1707. 

Town Clerk, Robert Searl Senr, 
Deputy, none Recorded. 
Henry Leadbetter ) 
Jonathan Clap / Constab. 
Eben. Billing Jun. ) 
This year Died widow Max- 
field, aged 86 years. And Dea. Preston Senr. 

This year Punkapaog Plantation with some other of y e 
Inhabitants of y e New-Grant were set off a Precinct by 
themselues, as far as Mashapaog Pond & Moose-hill. And 
y e Meeting-house ordered to be sett where it now stands 
upon Packeen Plain. 

1708. 
Selectmen, Capt. Robert Spur, Saml. Wales, Saml. 
Paul, Edwd. Breck, Hopestill Humfrey. Town Clerk, 
Robert Searl. Deputy, Dea. Hopestill Clap. Constables, 
Increase Leadbetter, Nathl. Glover Junr., John Foster. 
Births 33. Deaths 14. 

This year Died Octr. 16th Elder Samuel Clap, who had 
also been a long time Captain, &l often a Representatiue, 
a very worthy man ; he was Ruling Elder of y e Church of 
Dorchester almost 7 years ; aged abt. 74 years. 

1709. 

Selectmen. Votes. Selectmen. Votes. 

Serjt. Hopestill Humfrey 76 Char. Davenport 50 

Saml. Wales 65 Ens. Edwd. Breck 41 

Saml. Paul 65 

Town Clerk, Samuel Paul. Representatiue, Elder 
Hopestill Clap. Constables, Joseph Bird, Robert Field, 
Thos. Tolman Jun., Robert Field &t Thos. Tolman Refus- 
ing Saml. Robinson Junr. &, Henry White were Chosen. 
Births 48. Deaths 11. 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 39 

This year Janr. 30th, 1709-10 Died Mr. Thomas Bird. 
This year Dea. Hopestill Clap was Chosen Ruling Elder 
of y e Church & Ordained. 

1710. 

Selectmen, Samuel Paul, Edward Breck, Hopestill 
Humfrey, Saml. Wales, & Philip Withington. Town 
Clerk, Saml. Paul. Deputy, Elder Hopestill Clap. Con- 
stables, Ebenezer Clap, Abraham How for Capt. Tilestone, 
Jacob Shepard. Births 39. Deaths 10. 

1711. 

Selectmen, Hopestill Humfrey, Edwd. Breck, Philip 
Withington, Saml. Paul, Saml. Wales. Town Clerk, Saml. 
Paul. Deputy, Hopestill Clap. Constables, Obediah 
Swift, Joseph Weeks, Henry Crane. Births 35. Deaths 
14. 

17 12. 

Selectmen. Votes. 

Ensign Edwd. Breck 58 Town Clerk, John Blake 
Serjt. Hopestill Humfrey 43 Repres. Mr. Hopestill Clap 
Philip Withington 39 ( Joshua Pumery 

Samuel Wales 33 Constables I Eben. Holmes 

Samuel Clap 33 ( James Puffer 

Births 38. Deaths 16. This year Mar. 9th Joseph 
Bird died by a wound in his fore-head occasioned by his 
Gun flying out of y e Stock when he fired it at Fowl, being 
upon y e water in his Cannoo. And Saml. Wales died Janr, 
20th. 

1713. 

Selectmen. Votes. 

Serjt. Hopestill Humfrey 66 Town Clerk, Lt. Saml. Paul 
Ens. Edward Breck 53 Deputy, Mr. Hopestill Clap 
Serjt. Samuel Clap 54 ( Noah Beman 

Capt. Thomas Tilestone 45 Constabl. < James Trott 
Ensn. Char. Davenport 45 ( Rich. Hixon 



40 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

Births 27. Deaths 13. This year Sepr. 3d Died Ens. 
Edwd. Breck. And Novr. 11th Died James White. 

This year Majr. Rohert Spur, Roger Billing, Capt. Oli- 
ver Wiswell, Capt. Thos. Tilestone & Capt. Saml. Paul 
Committee, & James Blake Junr. Surveyor, began in y e 
month of May to measure y e Cedar Swamps &c. This 
year y e Proprietors, Incorporated into a distinct Body from 
y e Town. And y e Colony Line Run & Settled by y e 
Gen. Court. 

1714. 

Selectmen. Votes. 

Hopestill Humfrey 60 Town Clerk, Saml. Paul 
Samuel Clap 56 Deputy, Eld. Hopestill Clap 

Thomas Tilestone 46 ( Joseph Hall 

Samuel Paul 43 Constables < John Robinson 

Charles Davenport 41 ( John Wintworth 

Births 36. Deaths 22. This year y e line between 
Dorchester & Wrenthem was Extended from Station Tree 
y e most S. W. Bounds before made, unto near y e Pattent 
or Colony Line. 

17 15. 

Selectmen, Hopestill Humfrey, Saml. Clap, Capt. Thos. 
Tilestone, John Blake, Nathl. Glover. Town Clerk, John 
Blake. Represen. Eld. Hopestill Clap. Constables, 
Smith Woodward & Joseph Hall in his stead, Joseph Blake, 
Samuel Davis. Births 35. Deaths 13. This year Apr. 
29 Died Mr. Saml. Blake at Barnstable. 

1716. 

Selectmen. Votes. Town Clerk, John Blake 

Hopestill Humfrey 64 Deputy, Eld. Hopestill Clap 
Capt. Paul 34 f Thos.Mawdsley 

Capt. Tilestone 31 r n J Thos. Trott 

Mr. Nathl. Glover Jun. 40 ^ onstaWes S Saml. Bullard 
John Blake 61 [_ Saml. Lane 

Births 47. Deaths 10. This year Febr. 7th, 1716-17 
Died Robert Searl, who was Town Clerk about 16 vears. 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 



41 



This year abt. y e 19th of Febr. fell y e remarkable great 
Snow, after a moderate Winter. 



51 
45 



1717. 

Votes. Town Clerk, John Blake 
52 Represen. Eld. Hopestill Clap 

{Remember Preston 
Saml. Leeds 
Obadiah Haws 
Jona. Billing 
This year Died Capt. Roger 
Billing Janr. 27th, Capt. Eben. Billing Esqr. Janr. 25th, 
and Mr. John Blake, who was Town Clerk about 4 years 
at several times, & Deacon of y e Church not many weeks, 
died Mar. 2d, 1717-18. 



Selectmen. 
Philip Within gton 
John Blake 
Hopestill Humfrey 
Capt. Thos. Tilestone 38 
Nathl. Glover Junr. 31 

Births 28. Deaths 15 



718. 
Town Clerk, Saml. Paul 
Deputy, Capt. Thos. Tilestone 

f Preserved Capen 
p J Jerijah Wales 

' | Joseph Tucker 
l^Saml. Billing 
Town Treasurer, Jonathan Clap. 
Births 37. Deaths 23. This year Sepr. 16th Died 
Mr. Saml. Robinson Senr. & John Minot Mar. 21st, and 
Thomas Tolman Senr. Sept. 12th in y e 85th year of his 
age. 



Selectmen. 


Votes. 


Hopestill Humfrey 
Philip Withington 
Thos. Tilestone 


81 
90 
79 


Saml. Paul 


78 


Saml. Capen 


74 



1719 

Selectmen h Assessors. Votes. 



Thomas Tilestone 97 

Samuel Paul 94 

Standfast Foster 76 

Ebenezer Mawdsley 75 

Col. Robert Spur 69 

Eben. Billing 50 

Nathl. Hubbard Esqr. 47 
4* 



Town Clerk, Saml. Paul 

Deputy, Capt. Tilestone 

f Matthew Pimer 

^ J Edwd. Foster 

Consta. <^ phiHp Liscom 

l^John Hixson 



42 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 



Births 34. Deaths 11. This year Febr. 1st Died 
Charles Davenport often Selectman : And Elder Hopestill 
Clap, often Selectman, & Representatiue about 15 years; 
and Dea. of y e Church about 17 years, & Ruling Elder 
about 10 years. Upon his Graue-Stone is written by his 
Pastor Mr. John Danforth as follows. 

" Here lies Interred ye Body of Mr. Hopestill Clap, who Deceased 
Sepr. 2d, 1719, aged 72 years. 

His Dust waits 'till ye Jubily, 
Shall then Shine brighter than ye Sky ; 
Shall meet & join to part no more, 
His Soul that's Glorified before. 
Pastors and Churches happy be 
With Ruling Elders such as he : 
Present Useful, Absent Wanted, 
Lir'd Desired, Died Lamented." 



Selectmen h Assessors. 
Samuel Paul 
Eben. Mawdsley 
Thos. Tilestone 
Col. Robt. Spur 
Town Clerk, 



Votes. 
Nathl. Hubbard Esqr. 73 
Standfast Foster 65 

Ebenezer Billing 65 



1720 

Votes. 
89 
83 
80 
74 
Samuel Paul. Representatiues, Majr. 
Thos. Tilestone first, and at a new Court in June or July 
Col. Robt. Spur. Constables, James Bird Junr., Israel 
Leadbetter, Edwd. Bayley, Saml. Man. 

Births 27. Deaths 8. Town Treasurer, Eben. Mawds- 
ley. 



1721 

Selectmen &d Assessors. Votes. 



Ebenezer Mawdsley 125 

Jonathan Clap 92 

Samuel Capen 80 

Hopestill Humfrey 80 

*Toseph Blake 72 



Town Clerk, Eb. Mawdsley 
Town Treas. Jona. Clap 
Deputy, Col. Robt. Spur 
^ f Robert Searl 

o * J Robt. Spur Jun. 

^ n ) Thos. Spur 

Collec - [ John Gay 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 



43 



Births 53. Deaths 12. 

This year y e Small Pox went through Boston, &t it was 
in 29 families in this Town, whereof 13 Persons Died, two 
of them being Strangers. This year died Mr. Saml. Pay- 
son, & Nathl. Butt, & Edwd. Payson of y e Small Pox. 



1722. 

Selectmen 8i Assessors. Votes. 



Deacon Jona. Clap 76 

Majr. Thos. Tilestone 70 

Col. Robt. Spur 67 

Capt. Paul 65 

Joseph Blake 46 



Town Clerk, Saml. Paul 
Treasurer, Dea. Jona. Clap 
Deputy, Col. Robt. Spur 
f Robert Searl 

Consta. J Isaac How 



j Elias Monk 
^ Jeremiah Ruggles 
Births 43. Deaths 14. 

This year July 6th Died Mrs. Elizabeth Danforth, y e 
wife of y e Revd. Mr. John Danforth, in y e 59th year of her 
age. And Apr. 20th Mr. Henry Leadbetter Senr. And 
Octr. 12th Elder Samuel Topliff: He was a man of Piety, 
parts & worth, and was Ruling Elder in this Church about 
21 years : he died in y e 77th year of his age. 

1723. 

Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. 

Jonathan Clap 110 Town Clerk, Saml. Paul 

Joseph Blake 110 Town Treasr. Jona. Clap 

Samuel Paul 99 Repres. Col. Robt. Spur 

Majr. Thos. Tilestone 95 fEben. Williams 

Col. Robt. Spur 94 Consta Ubeo. Paul 

j Eben. Warren 
1^ Solomon Hews 

Births 45. Deaths 22. 

This year Died Dea. Jonathan Clap, Janr. 2d, and Lt. 
Samuel Clap, Janr. 30, who was also Chosen Deacon but 
Refused ; they were both of them very Pious and usefull 
men & much lamented. There died also Several other 
middle aged Persons about y e same time of a Feaver, 



44 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

James Bishop, Barnard Capen, James Bird Senr. & his 
Wife &i Daughter, &c. 

1724. 

Selectmen h Assessors. Votes. Votes. 

Joseph Blake 102 Saml. Paul 82 

James Blake Jim. 89 Col. Robt. Spur 62 

Majr. Tilestone 88 

Town Clerk, Saml. Paul. Town Treasurer, James 
Blake Junr. Repres. Col. Robt. Spur. Constables, 
Samuel Withington, Charles Redman, Samuel Scott, Eben. 
Williams for Francis Price. 

Births 43. Deaths 15. 

1725. 

Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. Votes. 

James Blake Junr. 90 Joseph Blake refused ) 

Majr. Thos. Tilestone 45 & Preserved Capen > 70 
Philip Withington 30 Chosen ) 

Joseph Hewins 30 Town Clerk, Jas. Blake Jun. 

Treasurer, James Blake Junr. Deputy, Majr. Thomas 
Tilestone. Constables, Benja. Bird, Robert Royal, Wm. 
Crane, Eleazer Rhodes ; Robert Field & Wm. Billing pd. 
their fine. Births 53. Deaths 13. 

This year died Richard Evans March 10th, aged about 
86 years. And this year also Died Elder Daniel Preston 
March 13th, 1725-6. He was Ruling Elder about 6 years, 
& Died in y e 77th Year of his age. 

The Elders of this Church have been, 
Elder Henry Withington, Died Febr. 2d, 1666, aged 79 

years. 
Elder George Minot, Died about Deer. 24, 1671, aged 
Elder James Humfrey, Died May 12th, 1686, in y e 78th 

year of his age. 
Eld. James Blake, Died June 28th, 1700, in y e 77th year 

of his age. 
Eld. Saml. Clap, Died Octr. 16th, 1708, aged about 74 

vears. 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 45 

Eld. Hopestill Clap, Died Sepr. 2d, 1719, in y e 79d year 

of his age. 
Eld. Samuel Topliff, Died Octr. 12, 1722, in y e 77th 

year of his age. 
Eld. Daniel Preston, Died Mar. 13, 1725-26, in y e 77th 

year of his age. 

1726. 

Selectmen &i Assessors. Votes. 

James Blake Junr. 105 Clerk, James Blake Junr. 

Mr. Philip Withington 77 Treasurer, Jas. Blake Jun. 
Majr. Thos. Tilestone 60 Dep. Maj. Thos. Tilestone 
Mr. Preserved Capen 54 
Mr. Eben. Clap 49 

' John Beighton 
Abraham How, & he Removing to Boston 
Matthias Evans chosen in his Room 
Constables ■{ Samuel Hartwell 
James Draper 

John Andrews, Paid his fine 
'^Richard Withington, Paid his fine 
Births 44. Deaths 9. This year Died Aug. 25th Capt. 
Saml. Paul, who had been often Selectman, k, he was 
Town Clerk 11 years. 

This year Punkapaog or y e South Precinct with y e Lands 
beyond it in y e Township of Dorchester were sett off a 
Township by themselues, by y e Name of Stoughton, leaving 
Dorchester but a Small Town, being narrow, and but about 
9 or 10 Miles in length, y e upper part being wood land k 
unsettled ; which before was about 35 miles in length & in 
some places 6 or 8 miles wide ; the length being Reckoned 
from Dorchester-neck to Angle-Tree, as y e Road goeth. 

1727. 

Selectmen h Assessors. Votes. Votes. 

James Blake Junr. 79 Mr. Ebenezer Clap 44 

Majr. Thos. Tilestone 78 Elijah Danforth Esq. 36 
Mr. Preserved Capen 55 



46 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

Town Clerk, James Blake Junr. Town Treasurer, 
James Blake Junr. Representatiue, Majr. Thos. Tiles- 
tone. 

f Thomas Evans 

„ iij Richard Haws 
Constables^ John Maxfield & dismist 

L Thomas Bird & paid his fine. 
Births 28. Deaths 6. This year Octr. 29th about 10 
of y e clock at night a terrible Earthquake, Continuing by 
times for several months. See 1744. 

17 2 8. 

Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. 

Majr. Thomas Tilestone 78 Town Clerk, James Blake 

James Blake Junr. 78 Junr. 

Benja. Bird 63 Town Treasr. James Blake 

Thomas Trott 61 Junr. 

Elijah Danforth Esq. ) - r Representatiue, Majr. Thos. 

&t Refused 5 ° Tilestone 

Capt. Robert Spur Jun. 41 

^ x , , C James Foster Junr. 
Constables ^ DanielTolman> 

Births 39. Deaths 10. 

1729. 

Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. Votes. 

Mr. Benja. Bird 69 Col. Thos. Tilestone 42 

James Blake Junr. 68 Capt. Robt. Spur Junr. 40 

Mr. Thomas Trott 57 

Town Clerk, James Blake Junr. Town Treasurer, 
James Blake Junr. Representatiue, Mr. Benjamin Bird. 
Constables, Joseph Bass, Samuel Tolman, Ebenez. Jones 
Junr. Paid his fine, Saml. Capen Junr. Paid his Fine. 
Births 26. Deaths 9. 

This year Aug. 4th Died Hannah y e Widow of William 
Blake, formerly y e wife of George Lion, in y e 91st year of 
her age. 

This year y e Revd. Mr. Jonathan Bowman was ordained 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 47 

Colleague Pastor with y e Revd. Mr. John Danforth (he 
being aged) Novr. 5th. 

1730. 

Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. 

Mr. Benja. Bird 77 Town Clerk, James Blake 

James Blake Junr. 78 Junr. 

Lt. Thos. Wiswell 61 Treasurer, James Blake Jun. 

Mr. Preserved Capen 55 

Mr. John Robinson 45 

Representatiue, Mr. Benja. Bird. Constables. John 
Wiswell, John Trescot Junr., Humfrey Heman & Paid his 
fine, Eben. Withington & Paid his fine, John Capen & 
Refused h Paid his fine. Births 38. Deaths 11. 

This year May 26th Died y e Revd. Mr. John Danforth, 
who had been Pastor of this Church about 48 years ; in 
y e 70th year of his age. He was S d to be a man of great 
Learning, he understood y e Mathematicks beyond most men 
of his Function. He was exceeding Charitable, & of a 
very peacemll temper. He took much pains to Eternize 
y e Names of many of y e good Christians of his own Flock ; 
And yet y e World is so ungratefull, that he has not a* Line 
Written to preserue his memory, no not so much as upon 
his Tomb ; he being buried in Lt. Govr. Stoughton's Tomb 
that was covered with writing before. And there also 
lyeth his Consort Mrs. Elizabeth Danforth. 

173 1. 

Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. 

James Blake Junr. 52 Town Clerk, James Blake 

Mr. Benja. Bird 47 Junr. 

Mr. John Robinson 41 Treasur., James Blake Jun. 

Lt. Thos. Wiswell 40 Deputy, Mr. Benja. Bird 

Mr. Preserved Capen 37 

Constables, John Wales, John Trescot. 
Births 44. Deaths 16. This year Died Mar. 22d 
1730-31, Mr. Hopestill Humfrey, often Selectman, in y e 
82d year of his age. And Rebecca y e widow of Richard 



48 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

Evans in y e 85th year of her age. And Mrs. Susannah 
Clap, widow of Elder Hopestill Clap, March 2d, 1731-32, 
ahout 80 years of age. And y e Honourahle William Tai- 
lor Esq., Lt. Governor &c. Died March 1st, 1731-2, and 
was buried in Govr. Stoughton's Tomb. 

17 3 2. 

Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. 

James Blake Junr. 42 Town Clerk, James Blake 

Lt. Thomas Wiswell 36 Junr. 

Mr. John Robinson 30 Treasur., James Blake Junr. 

Mr. Preserved Capen 29 Repres., Mr. Benja. Bird 

Mr. Benja. Bird 28 

Constables, John Blackmail Junr., Hezekiah Barber, 
Stephen Badlam & paid his fine, Ralph Morgain h paid 
his fine, Daniel Preston & paid his fine. Births 36. 
Deaths 19. This year Octr. 4th Died Mr. James Foster, 
often Commissioner h Selectman, in y e 82d year of his age. 
And his wife Mrs. Anna Foster died about 5 Days before 
him. And this Octr. 22d Died Deacon James Blake, in 
y e 81st year of his age, he having Languished about 7 
years with an ulcerous Leg very painfull ; but at last 
died of an Epedemical Cold that then earned off many 
aged People. He was a Deacon in this Church about 23 
years, and once Chosen Elder but Refused it. 

Upon his Graue Stone is thus written. 

" Here lyes Buried ye Body of Mr. James Blake, who departed this 

Life Octr. 22d, 1732, Aged 80 years & 2 months. 

He was a member in full Communion with ye Church of Christ in 

Dorchester aboue 55 years, and a Deacon of ye Same 

Church aboue 35 years. 

Seven years Strong Pain doth end at last, 

His weary Days & Nights are past; 

The Way is Rough, ye End is Peace ; 

Short Pain giues place to endless Ease." 

There died also Several other aged People this year — 
as Mr. Ephraim Payson, James Barber, Mrs. Royal widow 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 49 

of Isaac Royal, Ebenezer Holmes his wife, and Mr. John 
Bird Aug. 2d, aged 90 years & Six Months. 

1733. 

Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. Voters 77. 

James Blake 73 Town Clerk, Jas. Blake 

Capt. Thos. Wiswell 66 Treasr. James Blake 

Capt. Preserved Capen 59 Deputy, Mr. Benja. Bird 

Col. Thos. Tilestone 42 

Mr. John Robinson 42 

Constables, John Brown, Nathl. Holmes ; and"Lt. Joshua 
Sever, Edwd. Capen, Consider Leeds, John Daman, 
George Payson, Eben. Mawdsley Jun., Joseph Leeds Jun. 
&t Samuel Humfrey paid their Fines. 

Births 37. Deaths 13. This year died Mr. Samuel 
Capen, often a Selectman, in y e year of his age. 

1734. 

Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. Voters 68. 

James Blake 59 

Col. Thos. Tilestone 48 Town Clerk, James Blake. 

Capt. Preserved Capen 46 Treasurer, James Blake. 

Capt. Thos. Wiswell 40 

Capt. Robt. Spur Jun. 39 

Representatiue, Col. Thos. Tilestone. Constables, Tho- 
mas Glover, George Minot ; and Saml. Paul Paid his 
fine. 

Births 32. Deaths 15. From y e year 1657 to y e end of 
this year there is 2416 Births, and 921 Deaths, that is in 
y e Space of 78 years ; which shows that many of y e Peo- 
ple that were Born in y e Town moved out &; Died not 
here. And y e number of Births in a year for 40 or 50 
years past were not many less than they are now, (except 
when Stoughton also belonged to this Town,) which shows 
y e People are not much more numerous (if any thing) now, 
than they were then. And in Capt. John Capen's time, 
there is left a list of Persons Seated in y e meeting-house 
that now is, and y e number of men then Seated were 171, 
5 



50 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

and y e number of women were 180; which seems to be 
as many as can sit in those seats now. 

This present year 17 3 5. 
Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. Voters 77. 
James Blake 72 

Capt. Preserved Capen 62 Town Clerk, James Blake 
Col. Thos. Tilestone 60 Treasurer, James Blake 
Capt. Robt. Spur Jun. 43 
Capt. Thos. Wiswell 41 

Constables, Samuel Butt, Joseph Weeks Jun. ; and John 
Glover, Moses Billing, Henry Bird, Jonas Humfrey, Enoch 
Wiswell, Jacob Humfrey, & William Withington were 
Chosen & Refused, and are to pay their Fines. Repre- 
sentatiue, Col. Thos. Tilestone. 

Births 33. Deaths 18. This Year June 12th John 
Clap, son of Mr. Eben. Clap, was drawing a heavy Log 
upon a pair of Draughts, & y e Lever sliping loose y e end 
flew ouer k, struck him on y e Forehead, of which he died 
in about 24 Hours, he being then at Stoughton. 

1736. 

Selectmen &, Assessors. Votes. Voters 77. 

James Blake 67 

Capt. Robert Spur Jun. 43 Town Clerk, James Blake 

Col. Thomas Tilestone 40 Town Treas'r, James Blake 

Capt. Preserved Capen 40 

Lt. Thos. Bird 35 Voters 66. 

Constables, Jonathan Davis, Edward Kilton ; and Capt. 
Thos. Wiswell, Stephen Fowler, Thomas Evans Jun., 
John Capen, Wm. Robinson, John Robinson Jun., Samuel 
Durant, Timothy Tilestone Jun., & Naphtali Pierce were 
Chosen h Refused to Seme & are to pay their fines. 

Representatiue, Thomas Tilestone Esqr. 

Births 41. Deaths 20. This Year Apr. 28th Died 
Mr. Mather Withington, Son of Mr. Eben. Withington, in 
y e 22d year of his age, a Candidate for y e Ministry & had 
begun to Preach. Also Octr. 8th Elijah Danforth Esqr., 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 51 

(Son of our late Revd. Pastor Mr. John Danforth, Deed.) 
in y e 53d year of his Age. He was a good and safe Phy- 
sician, and had been one of y e Justices of y e Peace for 
y e County of Suffolk for many years together. Deer. 27th 
Mr. Philip Withington, Grandfather of y e S d Mather With- 
ington, Deed, in y e 76th year of his age. He was some- 
time Selectman, & other wise Improved in y« Town. 
Janr. 4th Died Mr. Timothy Tilestone, in y e 74th year of 
his age. 

This winter was very Cold & long, & y e Spring veiy 
wet & backward. 

1737. 

Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. Voters 47. 

James Blake 37 

Thos. Tilestone Esqr. 28 Town Clerk, James Blake 

Capt. Robert Spur Jun. 28 Town Treasurer, James 

Capt. Preserved Capen 26 Blake 

Mr. Thomas Bird 24 

Constables, Matthew Pimer & John Tolman Jun., also 
John Blake, Richard Hall, Oliver Wiswell, Ichabod Jones, 
& Samuel Clap, were Chosen Constables first, but Refused 
to Seme & Paid their Fine. 

Representatiue, Mr. Benjamin Bird. 

Births 32. Deaths 18. ' This Year Aug. 29th Died 
Mrs. Dorothy Quincy, Consort of y e Honble. Edmund 
Quincy Esq., Daughter of our former Pastor y e Revd. Mr. 
Josiah Flint : she died at Brantrey in y e 60th year of her 
age : and her mother Mrs. Esther Flint, Widow of y e S d 
Mr. Josiah Flint, died at Brantrey about a month or 5 
weeks before her. 

The aboue mentioned Edmund Quincy Esqr. quickly 
after y e Death of his Wife undertook an agency to y e Court 
of Great Britain in behalf of y e Province about y e Settle- 
ment of y e Line between this Province & New-Hamshier, 
and set sail from Boston Deer. 20th, 1737, attended by 
Govr. Belcher &, other Gentlemen below y e Castle, where 
y e Cannon were Discharged as he passed by. He had a 



52 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

Comfortable & quick passage to London ; but he not having 
had y e Small Pox & fearing he might take it y e Common 
Way (it being then in y e City) was advised to take it by 
Inoculation, which he did soon after his arrival, and Died 
of y e same at London, Febr. 23d, 1737, in y e 57th Year 
of his Age. The Province were at y e Expence of his Fu- 
neral, and y e General Assembly gaue order to erect to his 
precious memory a handsome Monument upon his Graue 
in Bunhill-Fields, London, with an elegant Latin Inscrip- 
tion, Englised as follows, viz. 

" Here are deposited ye Remains of Edmund Quincy, Esqr. native 
of ye Massachusetts-Bay in New England , a Gentleman of distin- 
guished Piety, Prudence & Learning. 

Who early merited Praise, for discharging with ye greatest Ability 
& approved Integrity, the various Imployments, both in ye Civil and 
Military Affairs that his Country Intrusted him with (these Espe- 
cially) as one of His Majesty's Council, a Justice of ye Supreme Court 
of Judicature, and Colonel of a Regiment of Foot. 

The Publick Affairs of his Country so Requiring, he embarked their 
Agent to ye Court of Great Britain in order to secure their Rights 
and Privileges. 

Being Seized with ye Small Pox, he died a premature Death, & 
with him, the advantages expected from his Agency with ye greatest 
prospect of Success : he departed the Delight of his own People, but 
of none more than ye Senate, who as a Testimony of their Love <& 
Gratitude haue ordered this Epitaph to be Inscribed on his Monu- 
ment.* He Died at London, Febr. 23d, 1737, in ye 57th Year of 
his Age." 

* The Monument itself was raised at ye Expense of ye Government; y'xi. 
Twenty Pounds Sterling. 

1738. 

Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. Voters 65. 

James Blake 57 

Thos. Tilestone Esqr. 46 Town Clerk, J. Blake 

Capt. Robt. Spur Jun. 41 Town Treasm\, J, Blake 

Mr. Thos. Bird 86 

Mr. Thos. Trott 34 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 



53 



Representatiue, Capt. Thomas Wiswell. Constables, 
Joseph Hall Junr. & Thomas Lyon Junr. ; and William 
Clap, Samuel Durant & John Maxfield paid their Fine. 

Births 48. Deaths 13. 

This year Died in January 1738-9, Robert Spur Esqr. 
in y e 78th year of his age. He had been a long time one 
of y e Justices of y e Peace for y e County of Suffolk. He 
had been also Lt. Colonel of a Regiment of Foot. And 
also had served as a Selectman Eight years, & as Repre- 
sentatiue Fiue Years. All which Posts he managed with 
fidelity & applause. And a little before him, July 27th, 
Died his Consort Mrs. Elizabeth Spur, in y e 73d Year of 
her age. Also this Year Died Mr. Joseph Blake, in y e 
72d Year of his age. He had been a Selectman 4 Years: 
and died Febr. 1st, 1738-9. Also Mary Pimer, Widow 
of Matthew Pimer, Died Octr. 13th in y e 74th Year of 
her age. 

1739. 

Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. 

James Blake 50 

Col. Thos. Tilestone 39 Town Clerk, James Blake 

Capt. Robert Spur 38 Town Treasurer, James 

Capt. Thos. Wiswell 36 Blake 

Col. Estes Hatch 34 

Representatiue, Capt. Thos. Wiswell. 
Constables, Samuel Blake, Robert Erskin. And Alex- 
ander Glover paid his Fine. 
Births 33. Deaths 21. 

This Year March 6th, 1739-40, Died Priscilla Wife 
of Mr. James Foster, in y e 47th year of her age. And 
Janr. 26th Wm. Patten was drowned going ouer Neponsit 
Riuer on y e Ice. And War Proclaimed with Spain. 

1740. 

Selectmen &l Assessors. Votes. 

James Blake 57 > Voters 61 

Capt. Thos. Wiswell 33 $ VOterS 01 ' 

5* 



54 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

sssrsfr £}***■ 

Mr. Thomas Trott 39 Voters 63. 

Town Clerk, James Blake. Town Treasurer, James 
Blake. Representatiue, Capt. Thos. Wiswell. Consta- 
bles, Humfrey Atherton Junr. & John White ; and Elisha 
Dauenport, Acquilla Tolman, Robert Searl Junr. paid their 
Fine. 

Births 41. Deaths 12. 

In y e fall of this Year the Revd. Mr. George Whitefield 
an Itinerant Preacher came to Boston, & y e Towns here- 
about, many of them, and Preached generally twice a 
Day, sometimes in y e Meeting-houses &, often in y e Fields 
unto vast assemblies. He had Travelled thro' all y e Eng- 
lish Provinces in America, from Georgia (where I think he 
hath a Church & an Orphan House) down to York ; and 
Preached in all or most of y e Towns he passed through. 
And in his Return he took a Circuit to Northampton, 
Springfield &c, & so through Connecticut Colony. When 
he Preached his Farewell Sermon in Boston Common, it 
was Judged by y e space of ground taken up by y e Auditory, 
that there could not be less than 20 Thousand (which I 
think is Mr. Whitefield's own account in his Journal) and 
some said 30 Thousand. He is a very Powerful Preacher, 
and has a Special Gift of Striking y e Passions & Com- 
manding y e attention of his Hearers. The Minds of both 
Ministers & People were generally much moued & Quick- 
ened by his Preaching. After him in y e Winter Came 
another Itinerant, the Rev. Mr. Gilbert Tennant, (I think 
from y e Jerseys) who also Preached at Boston as y e other 
had done, & in Several Towns hereabout, and in his way 
down to York & back again, but I think not in y e Fields. 

I think Mr. Whitefield was Educated in y e University of 
Oxford, & there he entered into holy Orders according to 
y e Canons of y e Church of England ; but he Preaches to 
Christians of all Persuasions. It is now when I write this 
aboue a year since Mr. Whitefield was here, it being now 
Febr. 9th, 1741, and there hath ever since been an unu- 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 55 

sual Impression upon y e Minds of People, gradually Increas- 
ing & Spreading from one Town & place to another, so 
that y e Common Conversation is upon matters of Religion, 
& of y e good work going on in y c Land by y e Extraordi- 
nary Effusions of y c Holy Spirit ; which some say was 
never so before Experienced in this Land, or they belieue 
since y e Days of y e Apostles. To be sure there is abun- 
dance of Preaching by our Ministers ; some go to other 
Towns & Preach in private Houses as well as in Publick, 
and evening Lectures are set up ; I think there is Four 
Evening Lectures in Boston every week ; and there is a 
wonderful disposition in people to hear. There has also 
in many places been very great additions to the Churches. 
Doubtless there will ere long be some Printed Account of it. 

And yet I am at present of Opinion that things are by 
some Persons carried too far, contrary to y e design of y e 
Holy Spirit ; as in some places where Laymen go about 
Exhorting (as they call it) h people crowd in large Assem- 
blies to hear them ; and many Cry out in y e Assembly h 
are so struck (as they call it) that for a time they loose 
their Senses & Reason, &t y e like. But these things I 
must leave until time or further Light shall Inform my 
Judgment. 

There was this Year an early frost that much Damni- 
fied y e Indian Com in y e Field, and after it was Gathered, 
a long Series of wet weather & a very hard frost upon it, 
that damnified a great deal more, and so Spoiled it for 
Seed that next Spring there was but little good Seed to be 
had ; the most hereabout planting twice over, to y e great 
damage of y e next Crop. 

This Summer there went 5 Companies of Soldiers from 
this Province of 100 men each, to war with Spain. They 
went to Jamaica to Admiral Vernon, & so to Carthagena, 
Cuba &tc. We hear many or y e most of them are dead. 

This Winter 1740 was very hard, beyond what has been 
known this 40 Years ; It began early & was very cold, 
attended with great Quantities of Snow. The Sea was 
very much Frozen, &t there was abundance of travelling 



56 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

upon y e Ice. There was great Travelling from Boston to 
Castle-William, and a Beaten Road in y e Snow kept 
Open, whereon in y e way stood two Tents for Entertain- 
ment : and Horses & Slays as well as foot Folks were 
Continually passing. And Sled-Loads of Hay came near 
Straight up from Spectacle Island. The Snow lay long, 
& made y e Spring backward ; I saw some drifts of Snow 
upon y e Islands, not quite Consumed, the 2d or 3d Day 
of May following. Also this year a great number of per- 
sons thro' y e Province Combined to make y e Bills called 
y e Manufactory or Land-Bank-Bills. 

1741. 

Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. Voters 63. 

Capt. Thomas Wiswell 50 

James Blake 46 Town Clerk, James Blake 

Capt. Preserved Capen 37 Town Treasurer, James 

Capt. Daniel Preston 36 Blake 

Mr. Robert Oliver 32 

Representatiue, Capt. Thomas Wiswell. 

Constables, Thomas Pimer &t Stephen Haws ; and 
Josiah Blake, Ebenezer Clap Junr., Jonathan Clap, Ebe- 
nezer Dauenport & Zebulun Pierce paid their fine. 

Births 44. Deaths 12. This year Janr. 22d Died Mr. 
John Trescott, in y e 91st year of his age. And on Aug. 
1st before, Rebecca his Wife, in y e 90th year of her age. 

This year there was a Scarcity of Grain of all sorts : 
Wheat Sold for 30s. per Bushel, Rye 22s., & Indian 
Corn for 20s. per Bushel paper Currency ; which is about 
one fourth of y e Value of Proclamation Money. 

1742. 

Selectmen h Assessors. Votes. Voters 49. 

James Blake 43 

Capt. Thos. Wiswell 31 Town Clerk, James Blake 

Capt. Daniel Preston 31 Town Treasurer, James 

Capt. Preserved Capen 27 Blake 

Capt. Robert Oliver 25 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 57 

Representatiue, Capt. Thomas Wiswell. 

Constables. Samuel Bishop & John Pierce Junr. ; and 
Preserved Baker, Nathanael Clap, John Trott, John Hum- 
frey, James Baker, Benjamin Everenden & Thomas Baker 
Refused and paid their fines. 

Births 35. Deaths 10. 

This year Sept. 19th Died Mrs. Sarah Billing, Widow of 
Capt. Roger Billing, in y e 85th year of her age. 

This year there was many Suits against some of y e Part- 
ners in y e Land-bank Scheme, by Virtue of an Act of 
Parliament, abolishing y e S d Scheme, and Subjecting y e 
Partners or any one of them to y e Suit of any person that 
Should be possessed of y e S d Bills & Demands them to be 
Exchanged for lawful Money, and y e demand be Denied 
or delayed, I think for y e space of Ten Days. This Win- 
ter was very moderate & but little Snow ; I think we did 
not go out of y e Lane for y e Snow all Winter. 

1743. 

Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. Voters. 

James Blake 

Capt. Robert Spur 

Capt. Thomas Wiswell 

Capt. Joseph Bass 

Mr. Thomas Trott 

Representatiue, Capt. Thomas Wiswell. 

Constables, Thomas Wiswell Junr. & Salter Searl ; and 
Collector of Taxes, Thomas Lyon Junr. 

Births 40. Deaths 12. 

This year July 7th Died Mrs. Relief Leadbetter, Widow 
of Mr. Henry Leadbetter, in y e 93d year of her age ; a 
Very Pious Woman, and much respected. This year on 
y e 29 and 30th Days of June, our new Meeting-house was 
Raised ; and on y e last of S d Days Ephraim Wales, Son of 
Jerijah & Sarah Wales, a young man of about 19 or 20 
years of age, assisting in y e Raising, fell from one of y e 
Cross Beams down upon y e lower floor, (about 26 feet) 
and was taken up Speechless, and to appearance Senseless, 



45 ) 




Town Clerk, James 


35 V 


56 


Blake 


34) 




Town Treasurer, 


35) 

28 


51 


James Blake 



58 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

and so he remained from about 11 or 12 of y e clock to 
about 8 or 9 of y e same day at night & then Died ; his 
Body being bruised & his Scull Fractured. The S d Meet- 
ing-house is 68 feet & 46 feet broad, besides a Steeple at 
y e west end of 14 feet Square, and about 52 feet high to 
y e top of y e Tower, and 52 feet higher to y e Vane ; with a 
Porch at y e East End of 14 feet Square. The Committee 
appointed by y e Town to Build y e S d House are Mr. James 
Foster, James Blake, Benja. Bird Esqr., Mr. Thomas Bird 
and Capt. Thomas Wiswell ; who agreed with Mr. Edwd. 
Kilton, Mr. Robert Royal & Mr. Saml. Gore, Carpenters, 
to undertake y e Building, h to find all y e Materials & do 
all y e workmanship, (Except y e Charge of Provisions for 
Raising, & some other Conditions about y e price of Boards 
&c.) for y e Sum of 3300 pounds old Tenor, h to be 
finished by October 1744. 

1744. 

Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. Voters. 

Capt. Robert Spur 35^1 Town Clerk, James 

Mr. Thomas Trott 34 I 44 Blake 

James Blake 33 f Town Treasurer, 

Capt. Thomas Wiswell 30 J James Blake 

Capt. Joseph Bass 1 9 32 

Representatiue, Capt. Thos. Wiswell. 

Constables, Edwd. Breck &t Nathl. Langley. 

Births 33. Deaths 15. 

In y e Spring of this Year War was Proclaimed with 
France. 

This year Apr. 4th Danl. Preston Junr. Son of Capt. 
Daniel Preston, being at Thomson's Island (with others) 
a Gunning, a Gun lying in a Cannoo with y e muzzle upon 
y e head board, accidentally went off, without any ones 
touching it, & he being either in another Cannoo, or on 
the Shore, was shot in y e head & died Immediately, in 
y e 23d year of his age. 

In the Fall of this year Mr. Whitefield arriued from 
England, first at Portsmouth, & then came to Boston, 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 59 

where he staid 'till next Spring, Preaching often in Seueral 
Meeting-houses in Boston, as Dr. Colmans, Mr. Webbs, 
Mr. Gees, Mr. Moreheads, & once or twice at Dr. Sewals ; 
as also in Seueral Towns about Boston, as far as (I think) 
Attleborough ; and in all places where he could be Re- 
ceiued : But Ministers &i People were generally Offended 
with his Conduct & manner of Preaching, but some were 
most firmly attached to him, and endeavoured to defend 
all that he either said or did ; which caused much Writing 
and Disputing ; and many Letters were by the Publick 
Prints sent to Mr. Whitefield, Charging him with many 
faults in his Preaching & Conduct that he has never as yet 
cleared himself of. 

This year June y e 3d on a Sabbath day morning a little 
before our meeting began (I being then in y e Meeting- 
house) was a Considerable Shock of an Earthquake, that 
shook y e Meeting-house much, & throwed down some 
stone wall near by, as well as at other places, h I think 
some Chimnies at Boston ; but not so terrible as that on 
Oct. 29th, 1727, when y e ground broke at Newbury & 
Hampton & I think other places ; and was often repeated 
tho' in a lesser degree than y e first Shock, for several 
months together. 

This year Deer. 2d, Sabbath Day, we met first in y e 
new Meeting-house, the House being quite or very near 
finished. The whole Cost of y e House that was paid for 
in money, .(besides y e time that y e Committee gaue) 
amounted to £3567 10 11. Mr. Bowman Preached a 
Sermon Suitable to y e Occasion on Psal. 84. 1. as likewise 
upon leaving y e old house y e Sabbath before on Rev. 3. 3. 

1745. 

Selectmen &, Assessors. Votes. Voters. 



James Blake 


56 


84 


Mr. Thos. Trott 


51 


Town Clerk, James Blake 


Capt. Robt. Spur 


51 


Town Treasurer, James 


Capt. Thos. Wiswell 


49 


Blake 


Capt. Joseph Bass 


45 





60 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

Representation Capt. Thos. Wiswell. 

Constables, Zebadiah Williams & Saml. Pierce. 

Births 35. Deaths 16. 

This year Octr. 21st Died Thos. Tilestone Esqr., aged 
70 years &£ 2 Days. He had been a Justice of y e Peace 
for I suppose 7 or 8 years ; and before that he had gone 
through I think all the Military steps from an Ensign to 
Lievt. Colonel, and had been often out in y e Service. He 
had been Representatiue about Ten years, though not all 
successively ; and a Selectman by times 24 years. 

This year y e Province of y e Massachusetts-Bay having 
y e winter before Projected an Expedition against the French 
Settlements at y e Island of Cape Britton, and Raised about 
3000 men, with several Vessels of War, Transports, and 
all sorts of Warlike Stores, with y e assistance of about 1000 
men more from New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode 
Island &c. ; ours set sail from Boston y e 24th of March, 
1744-5, &l after waiting at Canso for y e Removal of y e Ice 
arrived at Cape Britton y e first day of "May, where meeting 
with Commodore Warren with about 7 or 8 Men of War 
that were Ordered there from Several parts, they besieged 
the City & Forts of Lovisburgh ; the Men of War blocking 
up y e Harbour, and taking many Vessels bound there, 
some of them from y e East Indies & y e South Sea exceed- 
ing Rich, and among y e Rest one of y e French Kings 
Ships of War of 64 Guns & 500 men, called y e Vigilant ; 
a fine new Ship : and y e land army at y e same time Can- 
nonading & Bombarding y e Town, which held out till 
y e 17th of June 1745, and then Capitulated, delivering all 
but their Personal Estates into the hands of y e English, and 
were themselves transported home to France. There were 
but very few of our Men slain in Battle Considering y e 
great Strength of the place & y e desperateness of y e adven- 
ture ; but after our men had taken Possession of y e City 
& Island, a mortal Fever Seized them, and Continued all 
y e Summer and most part of y e Winter following, that 
carried off multitudes ; most that went from hereabouts that 
I knew either died there, or in their passage home, or soon 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 61 

after they came home ; 'tis said there died of our New 
England Forces about 1500 men. 

Our Forces kept the place until May following and then 
were Relieved by Forces from England, except those that 
Listed there. Wm. Peperil Esqr. was General of our 
Land Forces, who for his good service was made a Baronet, 
and both he & Govt. Shirley were made Colonels of the 
two Regiments that were to be raised in America, &, 
Joyned with y e old English Forces, for y e Garrisoning 
& defending the place. A more full Account (and I sup- 
pose y e best Extant) may be seen in Mr. Prince's Printed 
Sermon, Preached on y e Thanksgiving Day for that Vic- 
tory, Thursday, July 18, 1745. 

1746. 

Selectmen h Assessors. Votes. 

James Blake 45 ^ 

Capt. Robert Spur 40 , r 4 a ~ 

Mr! Thos. Trott 39 f Votera6 '- 

Mr. Thos. Bird 35 J 

Mr. Richard Hall 42 Voters 65. 

Town Treasurer, James Blake. Town Clerk, James 
Blake. 

Representatiue, Capt. Thomas Wiswell. 
Births 32. Deaths 13. 

Constables, Thomas Kilton & Timothy Foster. 
This Summer & Fall proved very troublesome, not only 
by y e Indians (oftentimes led on by y e French) coming in 
many small parties, &; sometimes in Considerable numbers 
of Several Hundreds, h falling upon our frontier Planta- 
tions, from East to West, and Surprizing, & in a Barbar- 
ous manner (many times) Butchering, killing & leading 
Captive a Considerable number of Men, Women and 
Children, (tho' not without some loss to themselves) ; but 
also by a strong French Fleet coming from France against 
us, consisting of about 30 Men of War, & 67 Transports, 
besides Land Forces, Forty thousand Arms, 25 Mortars, 
50 Brass Field Pieces he. ; many, & I suppose y e greatest 
6 



62 ANNALS 0E DOftC HESTER. 

part of them, arrived at Jebucta in Nova Scotia about y e 
middle of September, having set sail from Rochel or Roch- 
ford June y e 11th. There being also about 2000 French 
& Indians assembled at Menis. Fourteen of y e Men of 
War were Ships of y e Line from 50 to 74 Guns. They 
had on Board about 8000 Disciplined Troops, besides 
those assembled at Menis, and many more of y e French in 
Nova Scotia would have Joyned them. This Powerful 
Armament spread its Terror in all y e English Northern 
Colonies, & especially in y e Massachusetts & New Hamp- 
shire. Great preparations were made to Receive them ; 
as Repairing y e Batteries at Boston h at Castle William ; 
and the work was Judged so necessary that it was prose- 
cuted even on the Sabbath Days : Hulks were prepared 
to stop up y e Channel by sinking them therein : And y e 
Militia in y e Country (I suppose generally about one half 
of y e Regiments) drawn into Boston and y e lower Towns. 
Great Expectation there was of Admiral Lesstock with a 
large Fleet from England, to follow y e Enemy and Relieve 
us, but by means of contrary winds that great Expectation 
& our high-raised Hopes failed us. But tho' outward 
means failed us, yet God in his Providence was pleased to 
work wonderfully for our Preservation, and defeat y e well 
concerted designs of our Enemies, and to turn their wise 
Counsels into foolishness. He sent sickness among them 
that carried off many of their men> & their Chief Com- 
mander & (I think) y e Second also died : He also sent 
Terrible Storms both before their Arrival, k, after their 
Sailing again out of y e Harbour of Jebucta, that Cast away 
some of their Ships & disabled others, so that being dis- 
pirited they Returned to France without striking one blow, 
or doing anything of Consequence (Except taking some 
Merchant Vessels upon their Passage) and that in a poor 
shattered condition ; many of their Vessels as well as Men 
coming short home. For which deliverance God's name 
be praised. The best Account of this Affair that I know 
of is in a Thanksgiving Sermon Preached by Mr. Prince, 
Novr. 27, 1746, and afterwards Printed, to which I Refer. 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 63 

This year an Expedition was formed against Canada, & 
many Soldiers in this & other Provinces Listed for y e Kings 
Service, but y e Fleet in England designed for that service 
being Imployed other ways, the Expedition was laid aside, 
& y e men dismissed in y e fall 1747. 

1747. 

Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. 

Mr. Richard Hall 66 ) 

Mr. Thomas Bird 48 > Voters 74. 

James Blake 41 ) 

Capt. Robert Spur 48 ) y „. 

Mr. Thos. Trott 40 ) VOterS ' 4 * 

Town Clerk, James Blake. 

Town Treasurer, James Blake. 

Constables, Joseph Wales & Saml. How. 

Representatiue, Capt. Thos. Wiswell. 

Births 30. Deaths 26. 

The last winter 1746, some of y e members of this Church 
that had Separated from it, upon y e Commotion that Mr. 
Whitefield &; those Itinerants that followed him had raised 
in y e Country about Religion ; and for their Separation, & 
Injurious Treatment of y e Minister the Revd. Mr. Jona. 
Bowman and y e whole Church, were laid under the Censure 
of Admonition, h forbid to come to Communion until 
Repentance & Reformation ; Pressed y e Church to Joyn 
with them in calling a Council of Churches to Hear & 
Advise upon their matters of Complaint & Grievance ; 
which after several debates y e Church agreed to, & also to 
bear all y e Charge of y e Council. The members were 
Isaac How, Edward Foster, Ebenezer Withington, Timo- 
thy Tilestone, Naphtali Pierce h Eben. Davenport, toge- 
ther with Benja. Bird Esqr., who had been excommuni- 
cated by y e Church for Intemperate drinking, & thought 
himself very hardly dealt with, as also did y e Separate 
Brethren, of whose party y e S d Mr. Bird was, and a Chief 
Leader among them. It was agreed between y e Church 
& y e S d Brethren, that there should be Ten Churches sent 



64 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

to, and that each party should Choose five, (where they 
pleased) & if any of one side failed, y e same No. of y e 
other side should be taken off; & that y e Churches should 
be desired to send their Elder & one Messenger. Accord- 
ingly y e Church Chose Mr. Walter of Roxbury, Mr. 
Barnard of Marblehead, Mr. Prescott of Salem, Mr. Gay 
of Hingham, & Mr. Tailor of Milton ; and y e other party 
Chose Mr. Leonard of Plymouth, Mr. Weld of Attle- 
borough, Mr. Hobby of Reading, Mr. Rogers of Ipswich, 
& Mr. Cotton of Halifax ; (Three of whom, viz. Leonard, 
Weld & Cotton, had at y e desire of y e S d Party, assembled 
in a Private Council at one of their Houses several times 
before this), who together with their Delegates (Judge 
Dudley being with Mr. Walter) accordingly met at Dor- 
chester, Tuesday, May 19th, 1747, all but Mr. Rogers 
of y e agrieved Brethrens part (as they called themselves), 
and Mr. Gay went off upon y e Churches side to keep y e 
number equal. The Council being formed sat chiefly in 
the Meeting-house where was a Publick Hearing, & a 
great throng of People, many from other Towns. Mr. 
Walter was Moderator, but Mr. Barnard was his Assistant, 
who chiefly managed, by reason of y e Infirmities of old age 
rendering y e business too tedious for Mr. Walter. The 
Council sat 4 Days, beginning on Tuesday & ending on 
Friday. They Patiently heard all that y e Parties had to 
say, and in their Result, Justified Mr. Bowman & y e 
Church in all their actions, &t Condemned y e S d Party & 
advised them & y e S d Mr. Bird to Submit &t Return to 
y e Church &c. Since which y e Church has been quiet, 
which before was continually disturbed with Letters & 
Charges from y e Sd Brethren, & many Church meetings 
thereabout. But none of y e S d Party haue yet followed 
y e advice of the Council, but have till lately continued 
their Meetings at y e House of y e S d Eben. Withington ; 
where the S d Mr. Bird's Son (a young man that had staid 
3 years at y e College & y e 4th year was Expelled being 
of their party) Preached to them until last Fall, and now 
is ordained (as we hear) by two New-Light Ministers, (as 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. °5 



they are called) over a Separate party in Dunstable I 
think at this present our Separate party have no Constant 
Meeting. And two days ago, via. March 9th, 1747, the 
S* Ebenezer Withington at whose House they use to meet 
Deceased. I think y° Charge of f Council cos y • Church 
something more than One Hundred Pounds old tenor 

This fast Summer 1747, two or three Men of War 
came to Bay-Vert (between Cape Bretton and f 'Mouth 
of Canada River in Nova-Scotia and Landed Cannon, 
Mortars &c, for an attack (it is said) upon .Annapolis 
RovaT Expecting a Fleet from France to Joyn them. 
SuGoSs Providence wrought for our Preservation 
and again wonderfully delivered us from £ Distresses i such 
a Fleet might have brought upon us For on y« 3d of 
May 1747, the Admirals Anson & brave Warren with a 
Squadron of about 14 or 15 Ships of y« J-* 2*5* 

S=upieS£y^« 

leaded with all sorts of warlike stores were to proceed to 
Canada, (or Bay-Vert) in order from thence to fit out an 
Army with those they carried with them, to Joyn y S 
Fleet in Attacking ^ape Bretton, «^*?V% 
Roval or some of our Settlements. About 7 or 8 oi y 
Transports with their Soldiers arrived at Canada, the rest 
w r Xn by f Admirals aforesaid, with a vast Treasure 
in y° East Inclia Ships, and earned into England. Some 
1^ mention above Thirty Tons of Silver, and other 
Treasure beyond account. , 

Also on v« 14th of October, brave Admiral Hawk, with 
a Sq adronof 14 Ships of y° Line near Cape Fmisterre 
met with a French Fleet of Merchant-Men about 180 
M bound to y West Indies, Guarded by 8 French Men 
of Wa°of V Jne, and took six of them, besides many 
Transports! and Immediately sent Express to our Men of 



66 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

War in y e West India Islands, who with many Privateers 
Immediately Sail'd and Intercepted & took abundance of 
them. The News Papers this latter part of y e winter are 
filled with accounts of y e S d Fleets disaster, & how many 
are carried into one place & another, both in Europe & 
America. The 2 French Men of War that Escaped were 
one of 80 Guns h one of 74, & both returned to France, & 
left y e Merchant Men to shift for themselves. The French 
Men of War taken were ships of 74 Guns Three -of them, 
Two of them 64 &i one 50. It is said y e French fought 
bravely as long as they were able to stand it. 

1 748. 

Town Officers Chosen March 14th, 1747, for the Year 
1748, are as follows : 

Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. 

Mr. Richard Hall 85-j 

James Blake 57 \ yQtm ^ 

Capt. Robert Spur 55 r 

Mr. Thos. Bird 55 J 

Capt. Thos. Wiswell 43 Voters 74. 

Town Clerk, James Blake. 

Town Treasurer, James Blake. 

~ , , ( Hopestill Within gt on, 
Constables s u o 

I Henry Pay son. 

May, 1748, Representatiue, Capt. Robert Spur. 

Births about 33. Deaths about 10. 

In y e Summer of this year a Cessation of Arms with 
France (without Day) was Published here, and in y e fall 
of y e Year the same with Spain. The War with Spain 
began Anno 1739, and y e War with France began Anno 
1744, in y e Spring, when y e French from Cape Bretton 
supprized & took Canso, before the Garrison at Canso was 
apprized of y e War. And ye next Summer, 1745, New- 
England provoked thereby took Cape Bretton. See Anno 
1745. 

This year Grain was Scarce &t Dear. Indian Com 
sometimes 32s. per Bushel ; Rye 46s. & Wheat about 3 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 67 

pounds per Bushel ; Flour about 10 pounds per Hund., 
in old tenor Bills, which now are about y e 7th part y e value 
of Proclamation Money. The reason of y e high price of 
grain was S' J to be y e sending it off to y e French Planta- 
tions upon y e cessation of arms. This year Capt. Spur 
was made Just. Peace. 

1749. 

Town Officers Chosen March 13th, 1748, for the year 
1749, are as follows : 

Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. 

Mr. Richard Hall 60 ^ 

Capt. Thos. Wiswell 38 [ xr 

Mr.Thos.Bird 37 ^Voters 68. 

Robt. Spur Esqr. 36 J 

Mr. Thos. Trott 43 Voters 80. 

Town Clerk, Mr. Noah Clap. 

Town Treasurer, Mr. Noah Clap. 

Constables, David Clap & Saml. Jones ; and Hopestill 
Leeds paid his fine. 

May, 1749, Representatiue, Capt. Thomas Wiswell. 

Births 36. Deaths 19. 

In November last, I Relapsed into a Chronical Disease 
I have laboured under for (I think) aboue 30 years since 
it first began ; occasioned at first (as I conclude) by over 
heats, wet & cold, in my laying out y e wild & unimproved 
Lands belonging to y e Proprietors of this Town, now pail 
of y e Town of Stoughton ; and gradually prevailing upon 
me at times ; and sometimes bringing of me weak & low, 
h confined for a considerable time together : but none of 
my Paroxysms have brought me so weak & low as this ; 
I having been brought near unto y e gates of y e Grave, and 
am yet but weak & low, and have been ever since confined 
to my Room ; it being now when I write this March 22d, 
1748 : And how it will still please God to deal with me I 
know not, but pray that I may have Grace to yield not 
only sincere active obedience to his Will, but also passive 
obedience ; and that he will fit h prepare me for his good 



68 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

Will and Pleasure. My Disease is very Painful, attended 
with a grievous Stomach sickness, and Casting up large 
quantities of Water &c. The Seat of it is in y e Stomach, 
by some called the Cardialgia. 

By Reason of this my sickness I was forced to be absent 
from this last Anniversary Town-Meeting, which I had not 
been before (as I suppose) for y e space of 30 years or 
more. And the Town left me out of all Publick business, 
after I had served them (I hope I may say faithfully accord- 
ing to my ability) as a Town Treasurer, Selectman and 
Assessor for y e space of 25 Years successively, and as 
Town Clerk for y e space of 24 Years successively ; I having 
in that time wrote in the second Book of y e Towns Records 
208 pages which finished the Book ; and have begun the 
Third Book of Records, h wrote therein 119 pages ; besides 
making Tables for both y e two first Books of Records, in 
an Intire Book by itself. I have also in the Treasurers 
business made, begun & wrote out, two large folio Books 
of Accompts, Containing about 224 folios or 448 Pages 
each ; and the major part of the Third Folio Book of 
about y e same bigness. Besides large Bundles of Tax 
Lists, Tables to make Rates by, Warrants for Town Meet- 
ings, Divisions of y e Highways, Plans of Land sold by y e 
Town &cc. All which is more (I suppose) by many times 
over than any one man before me has wrote & done for 
the Town. When I first came into y e business, I found 
many things in poor order ; but I set myself Industriously 
(according to my ability) to Reform and Methodise things 
in y e best order I could. And though the Business was 
not profitable ; I spending a great deal of time, &t doing a 
great many things I was never paid for, especially in former 
years : yet since I spent the prime of my time in y e Towns 
service, when I might have Imployed it more Profitably 
otherways, & now am advanced in years, & so infirm & 
weakly, as not to be able to do any other Business ; to 
leave me out (not for any suggestion of male-administration, 
but) only to help a young man to some Business ; I cannot 
but look upon as ungratefull in y e Town : and yet I would 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 69 

not Impute it to y e whole Town, the matter being carried 
chiefly (as I suppose) by a discontented Factious party. 

This year May 10th, Peace with France & Spain was 
Proclaimed at Boston. 

And this Summer July 12th Cape Bretton was Restored 
to y e French again. And y e French Govr. at Cape Bret- 
ton sent to Jebucta & took up the Body of the Duke de 
Anville, Commander of the French Jebucta Fleet before- 
mentioned, and on y e 23d of August Buryed it with great 
Pomp and Solemnity at Lovisbourg. 

Sepr. 1 1 . Govr. Shirley sailed in y e Boston Man of War, 
Capt. Pierce Commander, for London, and Returned 
again Aug. 7th, 1753. 

Sepr. 18th. Arrived here Capt. Montague in the Mer- 
maid Man of War, being 5 Weeks from England, and 
brought this Provinces money to reimburse y e Charges of 
taking Cape Bretton, being £183649 2 lh Sterling; 
some Charges and the Insurance for bringing to be paid 
out of it. 

This Summer was the Severest Drought in this Country, 
as has ever been known in y e Memory of y e oldest Persons 
among us. It was a dry Spring, and by y e latter end of 
May the grass was burnt up so that y e ground looked 
white ; and it Was y e 6th Day of July before any Rain 
(to speak of) came. The Earth was dried like Powder 
to a great depth, and many Wells, Springs, Brooks & 
small Rivers were dried up, that were never known to fail 
before. And the Fish in some of y e Rivers died. The 
Pastures were so scorched that there was nothing green to 
be seen, and the Cattle waxed poor, h by their lowing 
seemed to call upon their Owners for Relief, who could 
not help them. Although the dry Grass was Eaten so 
close as that there was but a few thin spires to be seen, 
yet several Pastures took fire, and burnt fiercely. My 
Pasture took fire near y e Barn (by a Boys droping a Coal 
of fire, as he was carrying fire to y e water-side) and tho' 
there seemed to be so little Grass, yet what there was, 
and y e ground, was so dry that it blazed and flushed like 



70 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

Gun-Powder, and run very fast along y e ground, and in 
one place burnt some fence ; and we were forced to work 
hard to keep it from y e Barn, & to extinguish it ; having 
y e help of sundry men that happened to be here. It spread 
over about half an Acre of Ground before we could stop 
it ; and where there was lumps of Cow-dung it would burn 
till y e whole lump was Consumed, & burn a hole in y e 
ground ; and we were forced to use much water to quench 
it. There was a great scarcity of Hay, being but a very 
little cut, of y e first Crop ; & salt marsh failed near as 
much as the English Meadow. English Hay was then 
sold for £3 h £3 10 old tenor per Hundred. Barley & 
Oats were so Pinched that many had not much more than 
their seed again, &t many cut down their S d Grain before 
it was ripe for Fodder. Flax almost wholly failed, as 
also Herbs of all sorts ; and Indian Corn Rolled up & 
wilted ; and there was a melancholly prospect of the 
greatest Dearth that ever was known in this Land. In 
the time of our fears h Distress, the Government ordered 
a Day of Public Fasting & Prayer ; and God was gra- 
ciously pleased to hear & Answer our Prayers, even in a 
very remarkable manner : for about y e 6th of July the 
course of y e weather altered ; and there came such plenti- 
ful &, seasonable Rains, as quite altered y e face of y e Earth ; 
and that Grass which we generally concluded was wholly 
dead, and could not come again under several Years, was re- 
vived, and there was a good second Crop of Mowing ; it 
looking more like y e Spring than that season of y e Year : and 
y e Indian Com recovered, & there was a veiy good Harvest. 
And whereas it was thought in y e fall of the Year that a 
multitude of Cattle must Die for want of Meat, insomuch 
as they sent & fetched Hay from England ; yet God in his 
Providence Ordered us a moderate Winter, and we were 
carried comfortably through it ; and I did not hear of many, 
if any, Cattle that died. But by reason of so many Cattle 
being killed off last fall, Beef, Mutton & Butter are now 
in May, 1750, very dear : Butter is 7s. 6d. old tenor per 
Pound. Upon y e Coming of y e Rains h Renewing of 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. "71 

y e Earth last fall, the Government appointed a Day of 
Publick Thanksgiving. 

This Summer June 18th was said to be y e Hottest Day 
that was ever known in y e Northerly part of America. 

This Year Apr. 12, Died Thomas Mawdsley in y e 83d 
year of his age. And Content Mason, Widow of John 
Mason, in y e S9th or 90th year of her age, Apr. 27th. 
And Janr. 8th Henry Payson Died by Suicide : Hanged 
himself in his Cider-Mill. 

Town Officers for y e Year 1750. 
Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. Voters. 

Mr. Richard Hall 60 ) ftQ 

Capt. Thomas Wiswell 46 S by 

Mr. Edward Breck 52 ) ar , 

Mr. Noah Clap 46 ) bfc> 

Mr. Samuel How 39 68 

Town Clerk, Mr. Noah Clap. 
Town Treasurer, Mr. Noah Clap. 
Constables, Roger Clap & Jonas Tolman ; and Edward 
White h Purchase Capen paid their Fines. 
Representative, Capt. Thomas Wiswell. 
Births 36. Deaths 37. 

This Year Died Mr. James Blake, who wrote this Book 
thus far, on y e 4th Day of December, between 8 & 9 of 
y e Clock in y e Evening, in y e 63d Year of his Age : he 
had been in a very poor state of Health, ever since his 
Relapse mentioned in y e Year 1749. He was a very 
useful & serviceable man & often Imployed in y e Town 
& Proprietors Business, & did a great deal for them, as 
may be seen by what he wrote himself in y e aforesaid Year, 
J 749. He was much Esteemed by men of Learning for 
his Learning & Piety. 

This Year Mr. Richard Hall was Chosen Deacon of 
this Church h accepted. And Mr. Samuel Pierce & 
Mr. Edward Preston were Chosen before & Refused. 



75 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

Town Officers for y e Year 1751. 
Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. Voters. 

Mr. Edward Breck 41"| 

Mr. Noah Clap 40 I „ 

Dea. Richard Hall 39 f 

Mr. Samuel How 33 J 

Capt. Thomas Wiswell 34 63 

Town Clerk, Mr. Noah Clap. 
Town Treasurer, Mr. Noah Clap. 

Constables, John Wales &t Samuel Withington Junr. ; 
and James Trott, Elisha Tilestone, Caleb Braclly, Thomas 
Bird Junr., Jonas Humfrey Junr., Pelatiah Hall &, Joseph 
How paid their Fines. 

Representatiue, Mr. Thomas Trott. 
Births 24. Deaths 29. 

This Year Deer. 10th Died Mrs. Mary Tilestone, 
Widow of Col. Thomas Tilestone. And Dea. Nathaniel 
Topliff Deer. 15th, in y e 60th Year of his Age. 

In y e latter part of this Year & y e beginning of y e next 
was a very Dying time in Dorchester, with a Pleurisy & 
Nervous Fever, few living that were Seized with it. 

This Year there was an Act of Parliament for altering 
y e Style from old to new, and that y e 1st Day of January 
should be y e first Day of y e Year. The 1 1 Days odds 
were taken from Sepr. 1752. 

17 5 2. 

This Year Janr. 11th about 5 in the Morning, Died Mrs. 
Ruth Blake y e Widow of Dea. James Blake, in y e 90th year 
of her age. She had no Distemper, but died of old age. 

Janr. 23d, 1752, was kept by y e Church in Dorchester 
as a Day of Prayer & Fasting, upon y e Account of y e 
Sickness & Mortality that prevailed amongst us. It was a 
Pleurisy & Nervous Fever together ; when y e Pleurisy went 
off, y e Nervous set in, h very few Recouered. There died 
15 Persons with it in less than 2 months, besides what 
Died of other Distempers, y e most of them well hearty 
Persons & many of them in their middle age. 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 73 

Some time last Year there was a Petition put in to y e 
General Court by John Foster Esqr. & others of Attle- 
borouah, Norton & Easton, Praying that y e Court would 
Run y e Colony Line from Accord Pond to a Stake as they 
said set up by Nathanael Woodward & Solomon Saffery. 
The Proprietors of Dorchester & Stoughton Chose Robert 
Spur Esqr., Mr. James Foster & Samuel Blake a Com- 
mittee to Defend against their Petition, who in Conjunc- 
tion with y e Committees from Stoughton & Wrentham 
drew up a Reply to their Petition h put it in to y e Honble 
Board, who Voted a Hearing of all Parties, who on f 9th 
of Jam., 1752, were admitted, & heard by Counsel lor & 
against y e Petition & then withdrew, and y e Honble. 
Board after some Debate thereon Voted almost to a man 
to Dismiss their Petition, and sent y e Vote down to y e 
Honble. House for Concurrence, who also Voted a Hear- 
ing & on y e Hth of Jam. y e Parties were admitted, & 
he°ard by Counsel, and y House after a large Debate Voted 
to Dismiss their Petition also, by a very Clear h full Vote, 
which was a very mortifying stroke to y« Petitioners, they 
being very sure of having their Petition Granted, which it 
they had had would have given them many Thousands ol 
Acres of Land from Stoughton & Wrentham, for from 
Ano-le Tree where y e Colony Line now runs to, to y e place 
where they Petitioned to haue it run to, is as it is said aboue 
Two miles, so that had they brought y e Colony Line 2 
miles Northward from Angle Tree it must Consequently 
have taken a very large Quantity of our Land & given it 

to them. ,-rrn 

Town Officers for y e Year 1752. 
Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. Voters. 

Dea. Richard Hall ^°1 

Mr. Edward Breck 53 v gg 

Mr. Noah Clap 51 [ 

Mr. Samuel How 41 J 

Robert Spur Esqr. 32 o2 

Town Clerk, Mr. Noah Clap. 
Town Treasurer, Mr. Noah Clap. 
7 



74 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 

Constables, John Baker h William Marion ; and Thomas 
Harris, Edward Preston &, Abijah White, paid their Fines. 
Representatiue, Mr. Thomas Trott. 
Births 33. Deaths 44. 

June 18th, 1752. The new Bell* was hung in Dor- 
chester Meeting House ; It was a Gift of the Proprietors 
of y e Common & undivided Lands late in y e Township of 
Dorchester, and now in y e Township of Stoughton, to 
y e Town of Dorchester ; it arrived from Bristol in England 
y e week before. It weighs 785 Pounds, or in Gross weight 
701 Pounds ; it cost y e Proprietors Fifty Pounds, Sterling 
money. The Committee Chosen to Purchase it were 
Robert Spur Esqr., Mr. James Foster & Samuel Blake. 
This Year y e Small-Pox went through Boston, which it 
had not done for 21 Years before, so that there were many 
Thousands to have y e Distemper. There Died of it there 
561 Persons, 31 by Inoculation & 530 y e common way. 
Of those that were Inoculated there Died about one out of 
85, and of those that took it y e natural way hardly one out 
of Ten ; it did not spread much in y e Country Towns 
(except Charlestown) though it was in many of them ; 
there were Seven Persons had it in this Town, one of 
whom Died, namely Robert Searl, a man about 80 Years 
of age. There were according to Accounts Two Thou- 
sand Persons Removed out of Boston, into y e Country 
Towns to escape y e Distemper, which was far more than 
ever were known to Remove at any time heretofore. 

This Year Novr. 24th Died Capt. Thomas Wiswell, 
often a Representative h Selectman, in y e 61st Year of 
his age. 

Town Officers for y e Year 1753. 
Selectmen & Assessors. Voters. 

Dea. Richard Hall 
Edward Breck 

Robert Spur Esqr. j> 46 

Noah Clap 
Samuel How J 

* See Appendix, Note J. 



ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 



Town Clerk, Mr. Noah Clap. 

Town Treasurer, Mr. Noah Clap. 

Constables, Samuel Bradley, who removing out of Town, 
John Beighton was hired to seme for y e whole Town ; and 
Joseph Clap, Daniel Tolman Junr., Ebenezer Tolman, 
Desire Tolman, John Preston h John Robinson Junr., 
paid their Fines. 

Representatiue, Robert Spur Esqr. 

Births 36. Deaths 19. 

This Year Febr. 12th Died Mrs. Ruth Spur y e Wife 
of Mr. John Spur, in y e 32d Year of her age. And May 
22d Died Mrs. Wait Blake y e Widow of Mr. James Blake, 
in y e 69th Year of her age. 

Septr. 23d, 1753. Began to Read y e Scriptures in 
Dorchester Meeting House. 

Octr. 7th. Ebenezer Cox going off from y e Shore near 
y e Wharf in Dorchester in a small Canoo, to go aboard a 
Boat lying off, in his return back overset y e Canoo h was 
drowned. 



APPENDIX. 



inr In consequence of delay attendant upon the collection of ma- 
terials for the Appendix, the earlier points illustrated here are not 
noted in their proper place in the body of the work, but the references 
to each will readily be found on noting the years under which the 
annotations occur. 



NOTE A. 1630. 
The very important part taken by the people of Dorchester 
in England, in colonizing Massachusetts Bay, renders super- 
fluous all speculation in regard to the selection of that name 
for one of the first Bay towns. As early as 1624 some per- 
sons belonging to Dorchester sent over fishermen, and made 
provision for a fishery at Cape Ann, and two years after, 
say 1626, this company of Dorchester fishermen removed 
up to Naumkeag (now Salem). In 1627 Sir Henry Ros- 
well, John Endicott, Sir John Young, Thomas Southcote, 
John Humphrey and Simon Whitcomb, all of Dorchester 
and vicinity, obtained from the Plymouth Council a grant of 
the whole of Massachusetts Bay. Mr. John White, a zeal- 
ous Clergyman of Dorchester, writes to the Salem people 
to remain, promising to send them more men and provisions ; 
and Mr. Endicott, one of the Dorchester patentees, with a 
large number of planters and servants, arrived at Naumkeag 
in 1628. Roswell, Young and Southcote had in view trade 
with the Indians, fisheries and other purposes of profit; 
but when it was concluded to make it a religious settlement, 
7* 



78 APPENDIX. 

they are no more heard of; but we find Mr. White, in 1627, 
at London, very active in enlisting Crudock, Saltonstall, 
Venn and others in the undertaking ; and in March, 1628, 
Charles I. granted a charter to this company. All these 
well known facts prove that Dorchester, in Dorset, was the 
mother of the Bay colony; and the great emigration of 
1630 included many persons from that town. 



NOTE B. 1632. 

As the record of the first public act in relation to temper- 
ance in Dorchester, will be found interesting to many of our 
readers, we give the following copy from the Records of 
the Court : — 

"A Court holden at Boston, August 7, 1632." "It is 
ordered that y e remainder of Mr. Allen's Strong- Water, 
being estimated aboute 2 Gallandes, shall be delivered into 
y e handes of the Deacons of Dorchester for the benefit of 
the poore there, for his selling of it dyvers tymes to such as 
were drunke by it, he knowing thereof." 



NOTE C. 1633. 

The first Meeting-House of Dorchester was built in 1631, 
and was situated near the corner of Pleasant and Myrtle 
Streets, on " Allen's Plain," at the North part of the Town. 
It was one story, or about twelve feet in height. As the 
best houses of the colonists were constructed of logs, and 
thatched, it may be fairly inferred that their house of wor- 
ship was of the 'same material. It was surrounded by 
palisadoes ; was the depository of military stores, and a 
place of resort in case of alarm from the Indians. A senti- 
nel was kept at the gate every night ; and thither the people 
carried their plate and most valuable articles every evening 



APPENDIX. 



79 



to be preserved in safety. On Nov. 3, 1634, an order 
was passed " to build stairs on the outside, and the loft to 
be laid, and a window in the loft." — Town Records. 



NOTE D. 1633. 

" An Agreement made by the whole consent and vote of 
the Plantation, made Mooneday 8th of October 1633. 

" Imprimus. It is ordered, that for the generall good and 
well ordering of the affayres of the plantation, there shall 
be every Mooneday before the Court by eight of the clocke 
in the morning, and presently upon the beating of the drum, 
a generall meeteing of the inhabitants of the plantation, at 
the Meeting House, there to settle and sett downe such 
orders as may tend to the generall good as aforesayd, and 
every man to be bound thereby without gainsaying or resist- 
ance." — Town Records, Vol. 1, p. 6. 

The form of municipal government or Town organization, 
which has prevailed throughout New England for more 
than two centuries, contributing greatly to the well being 
and good order of society, is believed to have had its origin 
in Dorchester, in the vote transcribed above. — It may be 
remarked here, that the first General Court, by delegates, 
was -holden at Boston, May 14, 1634, 0. S., on which 
occasion Dorchester sent three members, viz. Israel Stough- 
ton, William Phelps and George Hull. 



NOTE E. 1633. 

"Monday, 3d Nov., 1633. It is generally agreed that 
Mr. Israel Stoughton shall build a Water Mill if he see 
cause."— T. R., Vol. 1, p. 7. 

« 6th January, Mooneday, 1633-4. Item. It is ordered 



80 APPENDIX. 

that Mr. Israel Stoughton shall have the priviledge of a weare 
at Naponset adjoyning to his mill, and shall enjoy it from 
the sayd weare to the bridge where now it is over the said 
Naponset without interruption ; as also between the sayde 
weare and the salt water ; that none shall crosse the river 
with a net or otherwise to the prejudice of the said weare ; 
and the s d Mr. Stoughton is to sell the Alewives there taken 
to the Plantation at 5s. per thousand ; and that all fish 
besides that is taken thence the plantation to have at reason- 
able rates before any other plantation. And the said Mr. 
Stoughton is to afford the said alewives at a lower rate than 
5s. per thousand if he can. Item, the said Mr. Stoughton 
doth promise not to sell away the sayd mill without the 
consent of the plantation first had and received." 

T. R., Vol. I. p. 9. 



NOTE F. 1639. 
Thompson's Island, in Boston Harbor, was first occupied 
in 1624, by David Thompson, a Scotchman, sent over with 
others to Piscataqua (now Portsmouth) by Gorges and Ma- 
son the year before, to establish a fishery at that place. 
Thompson had become acquainted with this Island during 
a trip to Plymouth. He left Piscataqua and took up his 
abode upon it six years before the Bay was settled ; and 
after the Colony was fully established he procured a con- 
firmation of his title to the Island from the General Court. 

Saggamore of Aggawani's Deposition concerning Thomp- 
son^ Island. 
" I Saggamore of Aggawam testify that in the yeare 
1619 or thereabouts as I remember, I went in my owne 
person with Mr. David Thompson and then he took pos- 
session of the Hand before Dorchester, he likeing no other 



APPENDIX. 81 

but that because of the smale Riuer, and then no Indians 
upon it or any Wigwam or planting, nor hath been by any 
Endians inhabitted or claymed since, but two years agoe by 
Harmben an old Endian of Dorchester. Witness my hand, 
this 13th of July, before Mr. Greenleafe, 1620/50. 
" Witness, Edmund Greenleafe. 

" Sagamore- ^of Aggawam." 

" This is a true copy, compared with its originall on file, 
as attests Edward Rawson, Sec'?/." 

Archives of Salem.] 

The subsequent grant of the Island to the Town of Dor- 
chester is thus recorded. 

" Tomson's Hand is granted to the Inhabitants of Dor- 
chester, to inioy to them and their heirs and successors 
which shall inhabit there forever, payinge the yearly Rent 
of twelue pence to the Treasurer for y e time beinge. — At 
ISewtowne by a generall Court held there 2d, 9th, 1637." 

T. R., Vol. 2, p. 37. 

Petition from Dorchester to the General Court. 
" To the honoured Generall Court now assembled at Bos- 
ton, the humble petition of the Town of Dorchester. 
" Whereas this honoured Court formerly granted unto 
the Towne of Dorchester the Hand called Thompson's 
Hand, and the inhabitants of the said Towne long since 
granted the same towards the maintenance of a free schoole 
there forever : And whereas this Court at the last Session 
thereof vppon the petition of Mr. John Thompson for the 
said Hand (Mr. Mavericke testifying on his behalfe, that in 
the yeare 1626 Mr. David Thompson his father took pos- 
session thereof as a vacuum domicilium, and dyeinge, the 



b'Z APPENDIX. 

said John Thompson when he came to age demanded the 
same) granted unto the said John Thompson the said Hand 
forever. The which we thinke this Court would not have 
so granted unto him before the Towne had been called, 
and libertie given them to have answered and pleaded or 
otherwise dealt with the said John Thompson about the 
said Hand; but that the jurisdiction thereof, or some other 
important reasons for common good, moved the Court there- 
unto : We therefore, not doubting of the justice and favor 
of the Courte towards vs and the furtherance of a free 
schoole amongst vs (which otherwise is like to faile) doe 
humblie desire this honoured Courte to grant vs some Hand 
(within the Courte's power to grant) w r hich may help vs 
towards the maintenance of a free schoole in lieu of that 
which is now r taken away, and not only wee but posteritie 
while time shall last will have cause to bless you, your 
justice and piety in advancing learninge. 
" And so we rest 

11 Your humble Petitioners, 

" The Inhabitants of Dorchester." 
" Subscribed for them all by the Selectmen, 

John Wiswell, 
Thos. Jones, 
William Blake, 
Geo. Weekes, 
Joseph Farnw t orth, 
William Clarke, 
William Sumner." 
1648. 

On the Petition is written what follows, viz. : 

" The Dept's are willing to answer this pet. when the 



APPENDIX. 83 

Towne presents that which is fit to be given and before our 
honoured Magistrate's consent therevnto." 



NOTE G. 1662. 
" The 7. 1. 1661-2. 

" The day above sayd it was voted whether there should 
be a Committee chosen for to consider what may be best to 
be done both for the Towne of Dorchester and our neigh- 
bours at Unquetie* in reference to a township amongst 
themselves, and the vote was affirmative. At the same 
time there was chosen for the Committee, William Sum- 
ner, John Capen, John Minott." 

T. K, Vol 2, p. 48. 



NOTE H. 1691. 
It is believed that the 46 soldiers alluded to under the 
date 1690, included inhabitants from Dorchester, Milton, 
and what is now Stoughton, Canton, Sharon and Foxbor- 
ough ; as Major Walley, who commanded the land forces 
under Sir William Phipps, states the whole number of sol- 
diers at 1300. Walley speaks of a Capt. Minott (a Dor- 
chester name), but the General Court, in granting to the 
Dorchester people the Township of Ashburnham, state the 
grant to have been made in consideration of services of 
soldiers under Capt. John Withington in 1690. 



NOTE I. 1701. 

The following is nearly a literal translation of the cele- 
brated epitaph on Governor Stoughton's tomb-stone. There 
are very few of the inhabitants of Dorchester who have not 

* Now Milton. 



84 APPENDIX. 

perused the Latin inscription on the well-known marble 
monument ; and to them, as well as to others, it is thought 
this English version of it will be acceptable. 

Here lies 

WILLIAM STOUGHTON, Esquire, 

Lieutenant, afterwards Governor, 

Of the Province of Massachusetts in New England, 

also 

Chief Judge of the Superior Court 

in the same Province. 
A man of wedlock unknown, 
Devout in Religion, 
Renowned for Virtue, 
Famous for Erudition, 
Acute in Judgment, 
Equally Illustrious by Kindred and Spirit, 
A Lover of Equity, 
A Defender of the Laws, 
Founder of Stoughton Hall, 
A most Distinguished Patron of Letters and Literary Men, 
A most strenuous Opponent of Impiety and Vice. 
Rhetoricians delight in Him as Eloquent, 
Writers are acquainted with Him as Elegant, 
Philosophers seek Him as Wise, 
Doctors honor Him as a Theologian, 
The Devout revere Him as Grave, 
All admire Him ; unknown by All 

Yet known to All. 

What need of more, Traveller ? Whom have we lost — 

Stoughton ! 

Alas ! 

I have said sufficient, Tears press, 

I keep silence. 

He lived Seventy Years ; 

On the Seventh of July, in the Year of Safety 1701 

He Died. 

Alas ! Alas ! What Grief ! 



APPENDIX. 85 

NOTE J. 

" At a Town Meeting the 9th (12th) 1668. The same 
day Nicholas Bolton did agree to tend y e meeting-house to 
keep it in decent order and to ring y € Bell y e yeer insewing ; 
for which he is to have £3, of which 10s of it in money if 
it can be gott, or otherwise to have 3d upon y e shilling for 
that 10s. Jno. Capen and Samuell Clap made the agree- 
ment with him, being thereunto appointed by y e Selectmen 
at their meeting y e day before." 

T. R, Vol. I. p. 202. 

" At a Meeting of the Selectmen the 12 March, 1687-8. 
Sergt. Leadbetter was ordered to speak to Isaac Riall to 
make a way up to the Bell." 

T. R., Vol. I. p. 441. 

" At a Meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants 
of the Town of Dorchester on y e fifth day of March, Anno 
Domini 1732, Legally Warned ; 

" Voted, That there be allowed & Paid out of the Town 
Treasury the sum of Three Pounds Ten Shillings, towards 
y e Ringing of y e Bell on the evenings at nine of the clock 
ye Year Ensuing." 

T. R., Vol. II. p. 343. 



NOTE K. 

As an accompaniment to the list of Town Clerks of 
Dorchester from 1630 to the death of Mr. Blake, as given 
in the Index, the following catalogue of his successors is 
added, with the year of their election. 
March 13, 1748, N. Clap. 
March 6, 1786, Saml. Coolidge. 
March 2, 1789, N. Clap. 
8 



86 



APPENDIX. 



March 4, 1799, 
April 7, 1806, 
May 26, 1806, 
March 7, 1S14, 
March 4, 1816, 



Ebenezer Tolman. 
Edw. W. Baxter, pro tern. 
Ebenezer Tolman. 
James Everett. 
Ebenezer Tolman. . 



March 7, 1826, Thomas J. Tolman. 



INDEX 



Page 
Arrival of adventurers at Nantasket 8 

Accounts of Rateable Estate to be returned (Dec. 1, 1658) . 21 

Arms of the Colony of Massachusetts ..... 29 

Assessors, first election of in Dorchester .... 16 

Assessors, ex-qfficio 34 

Adventures with the French and Indians .... 61 

Atherton, Maj. Gen. Humphrey, death of . ... .21 

" " " " his Epitaph ... 21 



Bailiffs, first chosen 

Bailiff, office abolished 

Bell, new,* hung in Dorchester Meeting-House 

" donation of the, and its weight and cost 
Bird, Ebenezer, accidental death of 
Bird, Joseph, accidental death of 
Births from 1657 to 1735 
Blake, Increase, nativity of 
Blake, James, ordained Deacon 

" " marriage of . 

Blake, James, Jr., marriage of 
Blake, James, Elder, death of 

" " " offices of 

Blake, James, Deacon, his death 

" " " his Epitaph 

Blake, James (author of the Annals), nativity of 

" " surveys the Cedar Swamps 

" " elected Selectman 

" " " Town Treasurer 

" " " Town Clerk . 

" " severe sickness of . 



13 
22 
74 
74 

37 
39 
49 
35 
26 
30 
30 
35 
35 
48 
48 
32 
40 
44 
44 
44 
67 



* The Bame bell now occupies the belfry of the Meeting-House of the First 
Parish.— See Note J. 



88 



INDEX. 



Blake James, (author of the Annals), lamentation of 
" " enumeration of public services of . 

" " his reflections on action of the Town 

" " death of 

" " public services of . 

" " character of 

Bowman, Jonathan, Rev. ordination of 

Bridge built over Neponset river,* 1651 

Burr, Jonathan, Rev. his death . 



Canada, expedition against 

" " relinquished 

Canadian troubles renewed 
Cannon mounted on Rock Hill (Oct. 31, 1639 
Capen, John, death of 

" " public services of 

Capen, Purchase, accidentally killed 
Chickatabut, Jeremy, sale of land confirmed 
Christian, Abby, drowned 
Church gathered at Plymouth 
Church troubles at Dorchester 
Church, disaffected members of, separate . 
Clap, Edward, Deacon, death of 
Clap, Hopestill, chosen Ruling Elder 
Clap, Deacon Jonathan, death of . 

" " " his character 

Clap, John, accidental death of 
Clap, Nicholas, death of ... 
Clap, Roger, his arrival at Dorchester 

" " his character .... 

11 " his Memoirs quoted . 

" " authorized to solemnize matrimony 

" " appointed Captain of the Castle 

Clap, Samuel, Elder, death of 

" " civil and ecclesiastical offices of 

Clerk, Town, or Recorder^ first chosen 

" " Deacon VViswell 



T. Records) 



See Note E. 



INDEX. 89 

Clerk, Town, pro tempore, Robert Howard . . . .19 

« " William Blake, Sen 20 

" " to be chosen annually 23 

" " John Capen chosen ..... 23 

" " " " chosen annually to page . . .28 

" " James Blake " " to page . . 31 

" " Samuel Clap chosen 31, 32 

" " election of, omitted in 16S8 .... 32 

" " " " in 1690 32 

« " " " in 1691 and 1692 . . 33 

" " Robert Searl chosen to page . . . 38 

" " Samuel Paul chosen 39 

" " John Blake chosen 39 

" " Samuel Paul chosen 39 

" " John Blake chosen 40 

" " Samuel Paul chosen 41 

" " Ebenezer Moseley chosen 42 

" " Samuel Paul chosen 43 

" " James Blake (author of the Annals) chosen . 44 

" " Noah Clap chosen 67 

Clerk of the Trainband chosen 22 

" of the Writs, see Town Clerk 19 

Collector, Parochial, chosen 30 

College, Harvard, collection for 19 

Colony line established by Court 40 

Commissioners of Justice chosen ...... 22 

" office abolished ....... 26 

Commissioner appointed 34 

Constables chosen 20 

Covenant of Dorchester Church 14 

Cow Walk, three Divisions laid out 16 

Danforth, Rev. John, ordination of 30 

« » " death of 47 

" " " his character 47 

" " " his place of sepulture . . . .47 

Danforth, Doctor Elijah, death of 50 

" " " his character and offices . . .51 

Davenport, Captain, killed 23 

8* 



90 



INDEX. 



Deputies first chosen 

" their election omitted 
Directory composed and recorded 

" its provisions 

" to be read at each town meeting 

Divisions of Land laid out ... 
Dorchester, origin of the name . 
Dorchester Neck called Mattapannock . 
Dorchester, settlement of, next to Salem 
" settlement, its plan 

" settlers of, their names and occupation 

" " their character 

" " many remove to Boston 

Dorchester Church, first gathered in England 
" Congregation, its number in 1690 

" Township in 1726 described 

" and Wrentham line extended . 

Drought, severe 

" its effects 



Earthquakes in 1727 .... 

« in 1744 

Ecclesiastical Council called .... 
" " result of . 

" " expense of session 

Elders of Dorchester Church, succession of 
Elm Trees set about the Meeting House 
Estates to be accounted for ... 

Embarkation of adventurers . 
Expedition against French Settlements 

« " " " its results 

" " Canada .... 

" " " relinquished . 



Famine in New England 
Famine, disposition of Inhabitants during 
Fast, at the gathering of the Church . 
11 on account of the drought 
11 kept by Dorchester Church 



32, 



INDEX. 91 

Fever, deaths by 33 

Flint, Rev. Josiah, ordination of 25 

" " " death of 28 

M " " epitaph of 28 

Fort to be built on Rock Hill, above Mr. Johnson's, Jan. 6, 1633* 12 

Foster, John, death of 29 

" " his epitaph 29 

France, War proclaimed with 58 

" Expedition against 60 

French forces, capture of 65 

France, cessation of Arms with 66 

Frost, great 55 

Grain, great scarcity of 56, 66 

" prices of in 1748 67 

Grant of Land to Dorchester by General Court ... 15 

" " " to the Indians 20 

" " " to Roger Clap 20 

" " " for a School 16, 20 

" " " to the Ministry 21 

" " " to the Non-Commoners 21 

" New, to Dorchester by General Court . . . . 16 

" " purchase of confirmed ...... 25 

" " twelve Divisions therein, laid out ... 35 

Hall, Richard, chosen Deacon 71 

Harvard College, collection for 19 

Heat, excessive, in 1749 71 

Humphrey, James, Elder, death of 31 

" " " his epitaph 31 

Indians, friendly interview with 9 

" Grant of Land to 20 

" adventures with ....... 61 

Land Bank scheme projected 56 

*On "20th, 3d mo., 1644," a tax of £ 100 was assessed by Town Order, for 
Fortifications on Calf Island, and for ammunition for the same.— Town Records, 
Vol. I. p. 61. 



92 



INDEX. 



Land Bank, suits against proprietors of 
Line of the Colony established . 



Mather, Rev. Richard, his arrival from England 
" " " his union with this Church 

" " " death of . 

" " " epitaph on 

Mather, Timothy, accidental death of . 
Matrimony solemnized by Roger Clap 
Mattapan, its discovery by the adventurers 

" removal of settlers to ... 

" its settlement .... 

" its name changed to Dorchester 

Mattapannock, or Dorchester Neck 
Maverick, Mr. John, pastor of Dorchester Church 
Meeting-House, first notice of 

" new, ordered ... 

" Building Committee of 

" new, built .... 

" old, sold .... 

" new, raised .... 

" M dimensions of 

" " Building Committee 

" " Artificers 

" " its cost .... 

" " first meeting in 

" at Punkapaog, located 

Mill, first, on Neponset river .... 
Milton set off from Dorchester .... 
Ministers, election of at Plymouth 

" ordination of, here .... 

Minot, Elder George, death of 



Nantasket, arrival of adventurers at 
Neck Lands laid out 
Neponset river, Bridge over 
" " Mill on . 



Orders, Municipal 12, 18 



14, 



INDEX. 



93 



Orders, method of authenticating 
" subject to revision . 
" for division of lands . 



Patent Line, Petition for alteration of the 
Peace with France and Spain proclaimed 
Pepperill, Gen. William, Baroneted . 
Pierce, Samuel, death of 
Poole, William, his death . 
" " his character 

" " his epitaph 

Pleurisy, epidemic, in Dorchester . 
Preaching in Dorchester in 1632 
Preston, Elder Daniel, death of 
Preston, Daniel, Jr., sudden death of 
Proprietors of Dorchester incorporated 
Punkapaog Township set off 

" called Stoughton . 

" Plantation set off 

" Constable chosen for 

" limits of . 

" Meeting-House located 



Quincy, Edmund, Agent to Great Britain . 
" " his departure for England 

" " his sudden death . 

" " his monument and epitaph 



Raters chosen 

" the election of omitted 
Records of Dorchester, a hiatus therein 

" of Births and Deaths burnt 
Recorder, first choice of 

" to be chosen annually 

Reimbursement of Expenses of War . 
Removal from Nantasket to Watertown 

" of Mr. Warham to Winsor 
Representatives or Deputies . 

" election of omitted 



94 



INDEX. 



Restoration of Cape Breton to France 

Rock Hill, Cannon mounted on . 

Royal, Isaac, discharged of work on Meeting-House 

Royal, Widow, death of 



School, Land appropriated for a . . . . 
School Wardens, first choice of . 

" •* their powers and duties 

School House built 

" its cost 

Scriptures read in Dorchester Meeting-House 

Selectmen first chosen 

" their powers and duties 

M second election of . 

c> power of seven of the board 

" their orders subject to revision 

" their powers further defined 

" one of the board to be Moderator . 

" appointed Raters, ez-qfficio 

" time of their election altered 

" appointed Assessors, cz-qfficio 

Settlers, motives of in leaving England 
Separation in Dorchester Church 
Shirley, Governor, his departure for London 

" " return of 

Small Pox, numerous deaths by 

" " its ravages in Boston and Dorchester 
" " in Boston and vicinity . 
Snow, remarkable ..... 

Soldiers, loss of at sea 

" Provincial, sent to West Indies . 
Spain, War proclaimed against 
" cessation of Arms with 
Spurr, Capt., appointed Justice of the Peace . 
Squamaug confirms purchase of New Grant 

Squeb, Capt., his perfidy 

Stoughton, I., licensed to build a Mill* (Nov. 3, 1633) 



* See Note E. 



INDEX. 95 

Stoughton set off from Dorchester 45 

Stoughton, Lt. Gov. Wm., death of 36 

" " " " his epitaph 36 

Strangers not to be received without notice . . . .21 
Style, New, established by Parliament 72 

Taylor, Lt. Gov. Wm., death of 48 

Tax levied in Dorchester . . . • . . . . 12 

Tennant, Gilbert, hia arrival at Boston 54 

Thanksgiving for revival of vegetation 71 

Thomson's Island appropriated for the support of a School . 16 

" " its possession withdrawn .... 16 

Topliff, Dea. Nathaniel, death of 72 

Treasurers, first, of Dorchester 17 

Votes, to have two or three readings before passage . . .18 

War with Spain proclaimed 53 

War with France proclaimed 58 

War, Expenses of reimbursed 69 

Wardens of School first chosen 17 

Warham, Mr. John, Teacher of the Church in Dorchester . 10 
Warham, Rev. Mr., his removal to Winsor . . . .14 

Warrants, Town, to express all matters of debate * ... 17 

Watertown, removal of adventurers to 8 

White, John, accidental death of 37 

Whitefield, Mr. Geo., his arrival at Boston . . . .54 

" " " his preaching .... . 54 

" " " his auditory 54 

" " " effects of his preaching ... 55 

" u " Author's reflections on . . .55 

u " " his second visit 58 

Winter, tedious 51, 55 

" moderate ■ 57 

Withington, Elder Henry, death of 23 

Withington, Mather, death of 50 

Wrentham and Dorchester line extended 40 

* " 13 lOmo. 1642. Every person offending against this order shall forfeit for the 
same six pence for every such offence, to be levied by distress for the use of the 
Town."— Town Records, Vol. I. p. 54. 



No. 1 of the COLLECTIONS OF THE DOR- 
CHESTER ANTIQUARIAN AND HISTORICAL 
SOCIETY. MEMOIRS OF ROGER CLAP. — This 

work was published in 1844. The Memoirs, written by- 
Roger Clap himself, together with an Introduction by the 
Rev. Mr. Prince, and some account of Capt. Clap's family 
by Mr. Blake, the author of the preceding Annals, were re- 
printed from the first edition, issued in 1731. Some fur- 
ther account of his descendants by the Publishing Commit- 
tee of the Society is also prefixed to the work, and there is 
added a copy of the inscription on his grave-stone as now 
seen in the Chapel Burying Ground in Boston. 

For sale by the Publisher of the Annals, over 184 Wash- 
ington street, Boston. -Price 25 cents. 






mum 



nw\Mi 



i*M&saM^* " "»U 



affiilll 1 



aWIMI! 



^iii 



SfiWK 



w -iitm 






5*% 



5^V'*" ( 






mm 



'&&& 









r^BBABVOFC 



ONGBESS 




'*l£*^ 






yspig 









ifc"'^ 



■DP 






ii^^ 



.-;" *ze 



